Olly Stone is just over two weeks away from tying the knot with his fiancée, Jess, on Saturday, October 12. The only complication? The fast bowler could be 5,000 miles away on the previous day, helping England secure a win in the first Test against Pakistan.
Stone admitted that juggling his wedding and international cricket has been "a bit manic" but a good problem to have. After saying "I do," he plans to quickly return to Pakistan for the second Test, which starts the following Tuesday in Multan.
The Nottinghamshire bowler proposed in the summer of 2023 during an injury-riddled season, having battled multiple hamstring issues and four stress fractures in his back over the years. When he popped the question, his hopes of a three-Test tour in Pakistan seemed distant, as his last Test appearance had been more than two years prior.
“We scheduled the wedding based on me only playing for Notts at the time,” Stone explained. He noted that in the past, he often delayed personal plans, focusing on upcoming series—only to face injuries or non-selection. This time, he and Jess decided to move forward with their wedding plans regardless of cricket.
Last year, Stone had discussions with England's managing director Rob Key, who advised him to string together consistent performances to re-enter the international setup. Over the winter, Stone played franchise cricket in Australia, South Africa, the UAE, and Pakistan, with his body holding up well, thanks in part to regular Pilates sessions.
As he regained form, Key publicly mentioned Stone as a future contender for England's bowling attack. The opportunity to play in two Tests against Sri Lanka arrived, just two months before his wedding.
“When I rejoined the England squad, Jess and I wondered what we should do if I was picked for Pakistan,” Stone recalled. Jess offered to reschedule the wedding, but Stone was determined to make it work as planned. He expressed his gratitude for her sacrifices, saying it was the least he could do.
After discussions with Key and coach Brendon McCullum, a plan was devised where Stone could play the first Test, fly home for the wedding, and return in time for the second Test. The rare Monday start for the first Test made this feasible, and Stone acknowledged the slim chance of the match running the full five days.
Even if Stone isn't selected for the first two Tests—he’s one of six fast bowlers in the squad, including Chris Woakes, who was supposed to be a wedding guest—he faces the possibility of finishing a Test and then flying home for his wedding in under 24 hours.
“If the match goes to the final ball on day five, I won’t be sticking around,” he joked, adding that any aches from the flight would be worth it. Stone has been eagerly awaiting this day ever since his proposal.
While the stag do took place in Leeds back in March, fitting in a honeymoon is proving difficult. With a potential Test series in New Zealand in December and the possibility of being included in the white-ball tour of India, Stone’s schedule is packed.
His current cricketing success contrasts with the start of the season, when Stone signed up to play for Great Witchingham Cricket Club in Norfolk, alongside former England spinner Monty Panesar. What began as an April Fools’ joke turned into a genuine commitment when Stone needed to bowl some overs.
“I owe a lot to Norfolk cricket,” Stone said, explaining that the club had helped him during Covid, and he feels a strong connection to the local cricket scene.
Outside of cricket, Stone has dabbled in commentary with BBC Sport and even tried his hand at football reporting for BBC Radio Norfolk—something he described as "not as easy as you might think." He also ventured into the business of buying and selling willow for cricket bats, though that’s on hold for now.
For the moment, with a Test series and a wedding on his mind, Stone has plenty to keep him busy.