England fast bowler Olly Stone believes he is in the right physical shape to press his case for a Test recall this summer.
The 31-year-old was involved in the winter tours to Pakistan and New Zealand after being awarded a central contract, external in October, but did not play.
And he is facing competition from the likes of Brydon Carse, Gus Atkinson and fit-again duo Mark Wood and Jofra Archer for a place in head coach Brendon McCullum’s plans with an Ashes series in Australia just 10 months away.
“I think everyone knows it’s not possible to play every single game of every single series,” Stone told BBC Radio Norfolk.
“With the physical demands of international cricket, there are some people that are freak enough to be able to play all those games, but we know as a unit that we’re going to have to rotate.
“And the fresher people can be, the more chance there is for England to win games – they’ve always said that if there’s a crop of us fast bowlers fit and firing and ready to go to the Ashes down under, especially, it will give us the best chance of hopefully bringing the Ashes home.”
Stone has taken 17 wickets in five Test appearances but has only come up against Australia in 50-over cricket, with best figures of 4-85 in Melbourne in November 2022.
He is currently playing for Dubai Capitals in the International League T20 tournament in Sharjah, as a way of preparing for his return to red-ball cricket with Nottinghamshire in April.
“I want to play as much cricket as I can. Thankfully at the moment I’m in a good situation and can make the most of this [opportunity], which leads nicely into pre-season in March,” said Stone.
“You’re very fortunate now – if you want to, and you’re lucky enough to be picked in the competitions, you can literally play all year round. There’s three comps going on at the moment – the IL out here, South Africa and the BBL (Big Bash League).
“If you don’t get picked up in one, hopefully there’s another one or two comps you can fall back on and go and get some experience elsewhere. You have to be savvy with which ones you go to and whether they’re going to benefit you as a cricketer, and then wait and see if you get picked up.”
Back in 2021, Stone contemplated abandoning his hopes of playing Test cricket because of persistent back problems.
But the Norwich-born former Northamptonshire and Warwickshire pace bowler is relieved to be free of injuries, which have plagued him for much of his career.
“I’m in a great place. I’ve got a good amount of cricket under my belt this winter. Obviously I’d have loved to play a bit more on the Test tours I was on, but just to be a part of that is brilliant for me,” he added.
“Hopefully, come October I get another year or two [on a central contract] and can be a part of it for a little bit longer.
“It’s a weird one – even if you don’t get your central contract, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re not going to be involved. All it takes is a couple of injuries and before you know it your name’s back in the mix.
“It would be nice to get another one, but I wouldn’t treat it as the end of the world if it wasn’t to happen.”
