Olly Stone sidelined after suffering side strain

Olly Stone is expected to be out of action for up to a month after sustaining a side strain.

Stone, who was part of England's training party ahead of the Test series against West Indies, sustained the injury during Warwickshire's Bob Willis Trophy match against Northamptonshire last week. He subsequently underwent a scan, which confirmed a low grade left side strain.

Stone bowled with pace and control in that game against Northants. He claimed 4 for 39 in the first innings but, having experienced some pain after bowling three overs in the second innings, left the field as a precaution. He has now started an injury rehabilitation programme at Warwickshire.

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The news extends a period of wretched fortune for Stone. The match against Northants was his first first-class game since he made his Test debut against Ireland last July. He subsequently suffered a recurrence of a stress fracture in the back which ruled him out of contention for the tours of New Zealand and South Africa.

England recognised Stone's potential in giving him one of their three new pace-bowling contracts at the start of the year and there is not much doubt that, at his best, he could be a considerable asset in Test cricket on flat pitches, in particular.

Warwickshire hope to have Stone back in time to play some part in the Vitality T20 Blast campaign.