"He bowls quick, back in at the stumps, hits people on the pads a lot and gets a lot bowled so in Sri Lankan conditions, you'd think he fare pretty well."
Wednesday 19 September 2018 18:36, UK
Former England bowler Ashley Giles says Olly Stone "bowls rockets" after the seamer was called up for England's ODI series in Sri Lanka.
Giles has worked closely with Stone in his role as Warwickshire's Sport Director and believes the 24-year-old has the attributes to make an impression in subcontinental conditions.
Stone has been plagued by injuries since joining Warwickshire from Northamptonshire in 2016 and was out of action for more than a year before returning to form and fitness this summer to take more than 30 County Championship wickets at less than 12 and a further 12 wickets in the Royal London One-Day Cup.
"He's been through a pretty rough time with injury, he missed about 13 months with a pretty serious knee injury so he'd have thought 'am I going to play at all?' let alone have the chance to play for England," Giles told Sky Sports News.
"He does bowl rockets! He bowls quick, back in at the stumps, hits people on the pads a lot and gets a lot bowled so in Sri Lankan conditions, you'd think he fare pretty well.
"We've really tried to look after him after his injury and perhaps wrap him up in cotton wool a little bit. But I think we've got the most out of him, he's bowled beautifully this year and we can't hide him forever!
"He has got some of that X-factor pace and I think it is credit to him that so late in the day, or so close to a World Cup, that he has got an opportunity to play in that squad. If he does get a chance to play with that squad for a World Cup in England it would be a fantastic achievement.
"That side has been pretty unchanged and you want continuity, it's something we've not done well in the past leading up to World Cups but he does have x-factor pace.
"We know through 50-over matches if someone can come on and bowl three- or four-over spells and take wickets, that's crucial in that form of the game. That's something that Olly certainly can do."
