Stone in line for Northants four-day debut

By Paul Bolton

Northamptonshire have included Norfolk seamer Oli Stone in their squad for the LV= County Championship match against Yorkshire at Headingley.

Stone, 18, made his senior debut in a Friends Life t20 defeat by Durham last summer and his season's debut in Sunday’s Clydesdale Bank 40 defeat by Warwickshire at Wantage Road.

He is now in line for a possible Championship debut having been included in the squad at the expense of David Burton who struggled against his former county Gloucestershire at Wantage Road last week.

England Lions seamer Jack Brooks will have a late fitness test on the back problem that ruled him out of last week’s victory over Gloucestershire.

But batsman David Sales faces another lengthy injury lay-off having suffered a torn hamstring while batting on the third day against Gloucestershire. Sales, who suffered a similar injury midway through last season, pulled up sharply and was unable to field on the final day.

Sales is likely to be sidelined for a month, which means he will miss most of Northamptonshire's FLt20 group matches. His absence means a recall for the experienced Rob White whose only competitive first team cricket so far this season has been in the CB40.

David Murphy continues as wicketkeeper ahead of Ireland international Niall O’Brien who is fit but playing in the second team this week.


Date: 29/05/2012 21:31:20 by Paul Bolton
In: Today | Northamptonshire |