Jamie Overton, 31, has announced an indefinite break from red-ball cricket to prioritise white-ball cricket and protect his physical and mental health. He played in the fifth Test against India at The Oval in July but concluded his body cannot sustain all formats across a 12-month calendar. Overton has a history of back stress fractures and has only two Test appearances, including a 97 against New Zealand in 2022. He remains in England's ODI and T20 squads for series against South Africa and Ireland. The decision effectively rules him out of the upcoming Ashes tour to Australia.
The England hierarchy, notably coach Brendon McCullum, are admirers of Overton and his Test recall for The Oval came ahead of others, such as Durham's Matthew Potts or Essex's Sam Cook, who had played for England more recently. He went wicketless in the first innings but took 2-98 in the second and had catches dropped off his bowling in an admirable effort with England a bowler down after an injury to Chris Woakes.
It is understood he had a shoulder issue in the week afterwards. Overton, who scored 97 in his only other Test against New Zealand in 2022, is in England's squad for the three-match one-day international series against South Africa which starts at Headingley on Tuesday. He is also in the group to play the Proteas in the T20s that follow and England's three-match ODI tour of Ireland from 17 September.
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