Jamie Overton is England’s putty, having spent a dozen years filling gaps vacated by others.
First chosen at full worldwide stage as a youngster, Overton, 31, is a participant this England regime values most for his capability to make impacts in numerous eventualities.
4 years in the past, he made probably the most of being requested to take the Chris Woakes position for the Headingley Check in opposition to New Zealand, putting a match-changing 97. In late 2024, when recovering from a again harm, he performed as a specialist batsman at No 8 in a one-day worldwide within the Caribbean.
Then, final summer season, he was drafted into the Check assault in opposition to India at his house floor of The Oval regardless of a power lack of first-class bowling behind him.
Now, his versatility is serving him effectively at this Twenty20 World Cup. Of the seamers to have bowled a dozen overs or extra, solely Zimbabwean big Blessing Muzarabani and South Africa’s Corbin Bosch can higher Overton’s economic system fee of 6.17.
The Surrey all-rounder didn’t start the group stage in England’s XI, dropping out on choice to Luke Wooden, however since his recall, he has excelled together with his bowling variations. Within the high-scoring defeat by the Windies, he conceded eight runs an over for his two-wicket return whereas England’s different seamers Jofra Archer and Sam Curran went at 12s.
Jamie Overton’s three-wicket efficiency in opposition to the Italians represented a career-best as he has grow to be a key a part of England’s T20 World Cup drive
The 6ft 5in all-rounder’s bowling on the loss of life has been notably spectacular
In that recreation on the Wankhede Stadium, he was launched into the assault on the finish of the ability play and likewise closed out the innings. For the 2 subsequent Group C fixtures, versus Scotland and Italy in Kolkata, he was handed the brand new ball after which requested to return on the loss of life by Harry Brook, responding with mixed figures of 8-1-41-4 – his three-wicket efficiency in opposition to the Italians representing a career-best.
‘In these conditions it is simply attempting to know precisely what you are going to do and the way you are going to go about it,’ the 6ft 5in Overton mentioned of stymying the Azzurri’s cost, together with his mixture of out-and-out hostility and slower change-ups. ‘We do loads of planning earlier than the video games that you may fall again on fairly effectively.’
Earlier within the Italy match, he had are available in with 19 balls to go, hitting 15 off 9 deliveries in help of Surrey team-mate Will Jacks.
His selfless method has made him common at The Oval, the place Gareth Batty, in his capability as captain, labelled him ‘our Andre Russell’ for his long-ball putting prowess.
Nevertheless, beginning in opposition to spin – the duty prone to be at hand for the upcoming Tremendous Eight conferences with Sri Lanka and Pakistan in Pallekele over the subsequent few days – is his Achilles heel.
Being swallowed on the additional cowl boundary for 5 off six balls in opposition to the Windies, after failing to get sufficient wooden on an aerial blow to Akeal Hosein, was a reminder of his gradual torture by the hands of India’s twirlers right here final 12 months, when he mustered simply 27 runs in 5 innings.
But in tactical talks, Brook reminds his colleagues that one of many causes this England workforce can take early dangers is the presence of Jacks and Overton within the decrease order. ‘With that energy and depth we now have, we do suppose we are able to chase virtually something,’ he says.
‘We do loads of planning earlier than video games that you may fall again on,’ says Overton
Nevertheless, Overton does have an Achilles heel: beginning his innings batting in opposition to spin, which is the duty prone to be at hand for the upcoming Tremendous Eight conferences with Sri Lanka and Pakistan
‘We’ve received a saying among the many group: Nobody’s going to be braver than us,’ he says. ‘The best way we’re going to go about enjoying our cricket’
However for accidents – a recurring theme of his profession – he would have been in earlier iterations of the England T20 set-up, particularly the final World Cup.
Having waited till 28 for his worldwide debut, the youthful Overton twin to Somerset’s Craig has responded positively to being requested to play in his off-the-cuff method.
‘We’ve received a saying among the many group: Nobody’s going to be braver than us,’ he says. ‘The best way we’re going to go about enjoying our cricket. It may not work each time however we’re going to provide it every part we are able to.’
Beginning on Sunday with a conflict in opposition to a Sri Lanka facet England whitewashed as preparation for this event.
