Olly Stone is less than two weeks away from getting married, the only complication is the wedding in Norfolk is the day after England's first Test in Pakistan.
For the fast bowler and his fiance Jess, the big day is Saturday, 12 October in Norfolk. The complication is that on Friday, 11 October, Stone could be 5,000 miles away trying to take England to victory in the first Test in Pakistan.Not only is Stone hopping continents in order to say "I do", he is then planning to be back in Multan for the second Test starting the following Tuesday.
By the time Stone presented Jess with a ring, the last of his then three Test caps was more than two years ago. The idea of a three-Test tour of Pakistan just over a year later seemed a long way off."It wasn’t like I have ever put my life on hold, but in the past I’ve always looked at future series and not done stuff. Then you get injured, or not selected, and you think you should have just done what you wanted to do.
"When I was back in the England squad, Jess and I were wondering what we should do if I got picked for Pakistan," says Stone. The plan is only possible because of a quirk of the schedule – a rare Monday start for the first Test means it will be done before the weekend. Stone will probably be helped by the rarity of England Tests lasting five days.
"If it goes to the last ball on day five, I won’t be hanging around," he says. "I’m sure there might be a few aches the next day, but it will be worth it. I’ve been looking forward to it ever since I proposed." It’s a contrast from the start of this season, when Stone put himself on the books of Great Witchingham Cricket Club near Norwich, alongside former England spinner Monty Panesar.
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