I Really Want to Get Into that Team and Treasure Every Moment, Says Mark Stoneman After Maiden England Call-Up

Dec 31, 2018 at 1:59 PM

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I Really Want to Get Into that Team and Treasure Every Moment, Says Mark Stoneman After Maiden England Call-Up

One man’s loss is another’s gain and Surrey opener Mark Stoneman will definitely agree with it. The 30-year-old earned his maiden Test call-up after his brilliant form in the county championship coincided with Keaton Jennings’ poor form for England.

Jennings, who started his Test career with a sublime century in India last year, struggled throughout the series against South Africa, managing just 127 runs in eight innings including a couple of ducks.

Keaton Jennings managed only 127 runs in four Tests against South Africa. Image Courtesy: Getty Images

And while Jennings will now look to resurrect his career by playing county cricket, Stoneman will look to make the most of the opportunity on the international stage.

One of the most prolific run-scorer in England’s domestic circuit over the last five years or so, Stoneman has been named in England’s Test squad for the first Test against West Indies, which is set to be the first day-night Test in the country scheduled to be played at Edgbaston next week.

Delighted with the maiden call, Stoneman said he wants to ‘treasure every moment’ and refrained from making any comment on his future plans.

“To get that call-up was quite a release of emotion and something I’m very proud of,” Stoneman told BBC London Sport. “It’s the ultimate goal. This is just a call-up to the squad, I really want to get into that team and treasure every moment. You can never look too far ahead in any format of the game so, as cliched as it is, it’s one step at a time.”

Despite his reluctance, Stoneman is looking set to become Alastair Cook’s 12th opening partner since Andrew Strauss’ retirement in 2012, as England are desperately trying to have a settled top-order before the all-important Ashes series.

Credits: Getty

Haseeb Hameed, who too had made his debut against India last year, made a welcome return to form for Lancashire with an unbeaten 77 this week but it seems England do not want to rush him back and Stoneman will look to make the most of his chance. He has been in fine form in the first-class season so far, scoring 1033 runs at an average of 57.38 with three centuries.

The Surrey star further revealed how amazing he felt after national selector James Whitaker told him about the selection.

“I’ve had a couple of phone calls before, when I missed out on selection, just to keep me informed of whereabouts I was, so when I saw Mr Whittaker’s number come up on my phone I wondered if it was good or bad,” Stoneman said. “He told me straight away [that] he had some brilliant news for me and it was an amazing feeling.

“You look back on everything that you’ve gone through in your career and the work you’ve put in and you realise that’s now all come to fruition and it’s been about getting to where you want to be. The timing has been quite good. I’ve been moving quite well this year and working with Diva [Surrey Head Coach Michael di Venuto] and the staff down at Surrey has really helped,” he added.

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