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England pacer Olly Stone has unexpectedly returned to the Test setup, catalyzed by James Anderson and Stuart Broad's retirements and the management's insistence to hone an express pace attack for the Ashes. However, his second life with the national team has come across as an obstacle regarding his wedding plans.
Stone is set to marry his fiancee Jess in Norfolk on October 12. However, the obstacle comes in the form of the series opener against Pakistan in Multan, scheduled to be played from October 7 to 11.
The pacer will be involved in a race against time to leave the squad after the first Test, return home for the wedding, and rejoin the team ahead of the second Test, scheduled to begin on October 15. However, talks with management have encouraged Stone to give it a shot rather than postponing the arrangements.
"It’s a bit manic, but a nice problem to have. We booked the wedding on the basis of me only playing for Notts at the time. When I was back in the England squad, Jess and I were wondering what we should do if I got picked for Pakistan," Olly Stone said in an interview with BBC Sport.
"Jess said she was happy to move the wedding and I was adamant on keeping it where it was if possible. For what she has given up and sacrificed for me, I thought the least I could do was to try to make it work. The squad was being picked and Rob said 'I hear you’re getting married'. I met with him and Brendon McCullum to have a few discussions on how to figure it out. We worked out I could be available for the first Test, go home to get married, then be back in time for the second," he continued.
Test matches involving England witnessing early finishes in the Bazball era might work in favor of Olly Stone, giving him enough time to travel to England.
Furthermore, with the Ben Stokes-led side surprisingly holding seven pace-bowling options in their squad in subcontinent conditions, Stone's services might not be needed by England barring any unprecedented injury crisis.
"If it goes to the last ball on day five, I won’t be hanging around" - Olly Stone
In the instance that the Test does last the full five days, which given Pakistan's tendency to dish out flat tracks could be a possibility, Stone will have less than 24 hours to make it back to England for his wedding.
The last time England toured Pakistan, the series opener in Rawalpindi lasted for five days. The remaining matches in Multan and Karachi were wrapped up on Day 4.
"If it goes to the last ball on day five, I won’t be hanging around. ’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," Stone said in the same interaction.
After Mark Wood's injury, Olly Stone played two of the three Tests in the recent series against Sri Lanka. He picked up seven wickets at an average of 29.43.
