The Sports Lowdown For All Your News and OpinionsMark Stoneman
Despite not having a remarkable first class record, Mark Stoneman has been long been touted as a potential England player, and given the lack of options for England, he may finally get his chance against Pakistan.
It is believed that the England selectors were considering calling up Stoneman before eventually choosing Adam Lyth as Alistair Cook’s opening partner earlier this summer. Stoneman missed out but Lyth has since looked unimpressive in an England shirt and it now looks as though there will be a vacancy at the top of the England order again.
Many will argue that Stoneman has not done enough in County cricket to earn a call up. He has a modest average of 31, but has impressed in recent years and was part of the Durham side that won the Championship three years ago. Chester-Le-Street, Durham’s home, is also one of the harder pitches to bat on. Although the England selectors are unlikely to call Stoneman up just yet, it is worth remembering that neither Marcus Trescothick nor Michael Vaughan had a particularly outstanding in domestic cricket before playing for England.
