Wood limped off the field on day three of the Old Trafford Test against Sri Lanka. He did not return to the field that day, and it was confirmed later on that he had sustained a series-ending thigh injury. England called up Leicestershire quick Josh Hull to their Test squad for the Sri Lanka series to replace Wood.
However, ahead of the second Test at Lord’s, starting August 29, the hosts have gone with experience, preferring Stone to replace the tearaway quick in the playing XI.
Stone, originally part of the initial squad, was released ahead of the series opener along with uncapped batter Jordan Cox to feature in County Championship matches. Stone came in place of uncapped pacer Dillon Pennington, who was ruled out due to a hamstring injury. He has represented England in three Tests so far, taking 10 wickets at an average of 19.40.
Apart from the two pacers, the England camp faced several injury setbacks, with captain Ben Stokes ruled out due to an injury sustained in the Hundred and opener Zak Crawley due to a fractured finger during the West Indies Tests.
England have made just one change for the second Test against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, starting on Thursday.
— Wisden (@WisdenCricket) August 27, 2024
Olly Stone will play his first Test since June 2021. pic.twitter.com/Bnw9edOe0C
The rest of the team is unchanged. Dan Lawrence, opening in place of Crawley, has kept his place after scoring 30 and 34 in the first match.
England XI for second Test
Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope (c), Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jamie Smith (wk), Chris Woakes, Gus Atkinson, Matthew Potts
Olly Stone, Shoaib Bashir
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