Table of Contents
Injury Blow for England’s Pace Attack
Olly Stone ruled out of summer after undergoing surgery on a right knee injury, dealing another blow to England’s already thin fast-bowling reserves ahead of the 2025 home Test season.
Yes, Olly Stone ruled out of summer, and the 31-year-old quick will miss all of England’s Test matches against Zimbabwe and India, with recovery expected to take at least 14 weeks.
Stone joins fellow pacer Mark Wood on the sidelines. Wood had already been ruled out following knee surgery after the Champions Trophy, leaving England without two of their fastest bowlers as they build towards the Ashes tour in Australia this winter.
Stone’s Stop-Start Career
Stone’s England journey has been marred by injuries. After returning to the Test setup in 2024 following a three-year gap, he added two more caps to bring his tally to five. His latest setback occurred during Nottinghamshire’s pre-season tour in Abu Dhabi, where discomfort led to scans and subsequent surgery.
England’s Fast-Bowling Concerns
With pace a priority for the Australia tour, the absence of Stone and Wood raises significant concerns.
| Injured or Unavailable | Status |
|---|---|
| Olly Stone | Knee surgery, 14 weeks out |
| Mark Wood | Knee surgery, out of summer |
| Brydon Carse | Foot blisters, season start delayed |
| Jofra Archer | Return to Test uncertain |
| Josh Hull | Out with injury |
England now turn to other options. Gus Atkinson, Chris Woakes, and Matthew Potts have recent Test experience, while Josh Tongue is back playing for Nottinghamshire after battling injury.
Next in Line?
Surrey’s Dan Worrall, who played ODIs for Australia, will be eligible to play for England by May. He could be a strong contender for the Zimbabwe series. Other potential candidates include:
-
John Turner and Sonny Baker (Hampshire)
-
Sam Cook (Essex)
-
Jamie Overton (Surrey)
England are expected to rotate and test their bowling depth through the summer, with selectors focused on shaping a durable pace unit for the Ashes 2025.
👉 Stay with Cricket Army for all updates on England’s Test squad, injury comebacks, and Ashes preparations.
