Fast bowler Olly Stone is eager to get back in contention for an England Test spot due to the brand of cricket played by Ben Stokes’ side.
The 29-year-old took 10 wickets in three Tests, most recently against New Zealand in June 2021.
But then he had back surgery and a year ago, worried about his future in the red ball game.
“I mentioned to Stokesy how badly I wanted to play Test cricket again,” Stone told BBC Radio Norfolk.
“The way England played that test match (in Pakistan) made me even more determined to come back to this team and be part of the way they approach their cricket.”
England’s 74-run win at Rawalpindi was all the more remarkable as it was achieved on a lifeless wicket offering little to the bowlers.
Despite this, dressmakers James Anderson and Ollie Robinson shared eight wickets between them on the final day as the team continued their run of success since Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum took charge of the team.
“Everybody talked about how compliant the ground was and how England came out in that last leg and went for the bouncer-first tactic, I think that surprised a few people and that surprised Pakistan .
“The way they’re approaching their cricket right now, they’re not afraid to try anything to get that win. That fearless attitude and never-give-up mentality got them over the line,” said said Norwich-born Stone, who, like Jofra Archer and Mark Wood, is capable of consistently driving over 90mph.
“You’ve got people going with you on this journey, they want to be part of it and will do anything, whether it’s going out and trying to hit six sixes, which some of the hitters looked like doing, or someone like Ollie Robinson who is not used to bowling bouncers but had to do this tactic for the team and came out on top.”
Stone played two one-day internationals in Australia in November, followed by a stint in the United Arab Emirates’ T10 competition.
He is due to feature for MI Cape Town in South Africa’s T20 tournament in the new year and intends to put his name in the Pakistan Super League draft in February and March, but those commitments depend on of any involvement with England.
“The aim now is to be available for as much international cricket as possible,” he added.
“I’m in South Africa for the start of their new T20 competition in early January so hopefully I’ll get the go-ahead for the over-50s (one-day) matches in the middle of that and then he there will be two tests in New Zealand or another cue ball tour of Bangladesh.
“The way England played that test match (in Pakistan) made me even more determined to come back to this team and be part of the way they approach their cricket.
He added: “Going around the world bowling in different conditions helps you move forward. Otherwise I’ll be back and preparing for that first league game (for Nottinghamshire) and hopefully putting my name in the mix for the Ashes next summer.”
