Craig Overton

Tall, aggressive, possessing decent pace and can swing both ways, Craig Overton has all the attributes to be successful in Test cricket. The Devon-born right-arm pacer was part of the England Under-19 World Cup squad in 2012. In the same year, he made his First-Class debut for Somerset against Lancashire. He was named ‘Somerset Academy Player of the Year’ at the end of the season.

A stress fracture in his back forced Overton out of action for a major part of the 2013 season. However, he recovered and came back strongly in the following season. In 13 FC matches, he picked 42 wickets and compiled 431 runs with the bat. The seamer grabbed headlines in the 2015 season, where he averaged 21.70 with the ball while picking 43 wickets. Overton showed his mettle with the bat as well by racking up 320 runs at 29.09 (average).

At the end of a successful 2015 season, Overton was banned for two games after accruing nine disciplinary points, mostly for failing to keep his mouth closed. Overton admitted it was a wake-up call and he received extra support from Somerset to help him curb his temper. Overton registered his maiden first-class ton in 2016 against Hampshire at Taunton.

Overton enjoyed his best season in 2017. He started the season playing for the MCC in Abu Dhabi against Middlesex in the Champions County game. He took seven wickets in that match and was the most impressive seamer on show. Back in England, he continued in a similar vein for Somerset and finished with 46 wickets at 22.39 during a difficult Championship campaign.

In the absence of Ben Stokes, Overton was selected for the 2017-18 Ashes tour. He made his Test debut in Adelaide and Steve Smith (who scored 687 runs in the series) became his first international victim. In the following Test, he copped a Pat Cummins bouncer on his midriff in Adelaide and that got aggravated when he dived to his left to try and take a return catch and fell on the bruised side. The scans revealed a hairline crack, but he continued playing. However, that injury ruled him out for the rest of the matches in the series.