England’s preparations for the upcoming home Test series have taken a major setback, as fast bowler Olly Stone has been ruled out of all forms of cricket for the next 14 weeks following a knee injury.
The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Friday that the 31-year-old pacer underwent surgery for an injury to his right knee and will not be available for the summer Test series against India and Zimbabwe.
Stone, who had been part of England’s touring squads to Pakistan and New Zealand last winter, did not feature in those matches. However, he demonstrated promise last year by claiming seven wickets in two Tests against Sri Lanka.
Unfortunately, his momentum has been halted once again. During Nottinghamshire’s pre-season training camp in Abu Dhabi last month, Stone began experiencing worsening knee discomfort. Subsequent scans revealed the severity of the issue, necessitating surgical intervention.
Rehabilitation Underway, Return Hoped by August 2025
Post-surgery, Stone has entered a structured rehabilitation programme under the guidance of medical teams from both the ECB and Nottinghamshire. His recovery timeline indicates that he is unlikely to return to competitive cricket until August 2025 at the earliest.
The setback means Stone will miss a key stretch of England’s summer campaign, including six high-profile Test matches — a standalone fixture against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, beginning 22 May, and the highly anticipated five-match Test series against India.
Stone had hoped to revive his red-ball career this April with Nottinghamshire, following a recent stint with Dubai Capitals in the IL T20 league held in Sharjah earlier this year. His most recent appearance for the national side came in an ODI against Australia.
Speedy recovery, Stoney
Olly Stone is to miss the start of the English Summer with a knee injury#EnglandCricket | Full Story
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) April 4, 2025
Now sidelined, Stone finds himself facing stiff competition in reclaiming his place in the England Test squad. With the Ashes series in Australia looming in just seven months, other pace contenders such as Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, and Jofra Archer will be eager to seize the opportunity.
Despite the setback, the ECB remains optimistic about his recovery. “He will now begin rehabilitation with the support of the ECB and Nottinghamshire medical teams and is expected to be unavailable for 14 weeks,” the board said in a statement.
Stone’s absence is undoubtedly a blow for England, but the team will be hoping their pace reserves can step up in his absence during what promises to be a demanding summer of red-ball cricket.
