Olly Stone Leaves England’s Pakistan Tour for His Wedding

Olly Stone, an English cricketer, is heading back home from England’s tour of Pakistan to get married this weekend. This means he might miss the second Test in Multan. Stone recently played two Tests against Sri Lanka, taking seven wickets, marking his return to the format after three years.

England has chosen Brydon Carse as their high-pace option for the first Test in Multan, allowing Stone to leave earlier than planned. The exact date of Stone’s return is uncertain and depends on the condition of England’s fast bowlers after the first Test. However, with his wedding on Saturday and the second Test starting on Tuesday, his participation seems unlikely.

England’s team management approved Stone’s leave since he wasn’t included in their latest central contracts, and his wedding was planned before his recall. Stone discussed his plans with England’s managing director Rob Key and coach Brendon McCullum, who agreed he should return for his wedding. Stone shared that his fiancée, Jess, was willing to move the wedding, but he insisted on keeping it as planned to honor her sacrifices.

In the past, players like Tony Pigott postponed weddings for cricket, and Joe Root, a former England captain, mentioned rescheduling his wedding due to tours. Root expressed excitement for Stone, saying it’s a special time in his life and that the team supports him wholeheartedly.