Jamie Overton returns for third ODI despite indefinite red ball break

Earlier in the week, England and Surrey cricketer Jamie Overton announced that he would be taking an indefinite break from red ball cricket as he was at the point in his career where he wanted to focus on the white ball game, so he effectively ruled himself out of this winter’s Ashes series.

But he has now been recalled into England’s team for the third and final one day international against South Africa which will take place in Southampton this Sunday.

The 31-year-old all-rounder is now set to make his first appearance of the current series, and he comes in as seamer Saqib Mahmood’s replacement following on from the defeats to the Proteas at the storied Headingley and Lord’s.

Having played six ODI’s for England so far, with his most recent involvement coming in the West Indies clash at Edgbaston back in May, he will be looking to give a better account of himself and maybe have a Crazy Time Betpanda moment at the wickets and walk away as a big winner.

Return

Although he made just a single with the bat, he did take 3-22 in a crushing 238 run win.

Overtun’s return to the one day international game is the only squad change for England, which obviously results in continuing support and backing for for fellow all rounders Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks (and maybe Joe Root) as the aim will be for them to collectively split the workload playing the role of a fifth bowler, as opposed to selecting a more dyed in the wool specialist bowler.

England have taken the decision to not overly tinker with the structure of the side, and Bethell and Jacks did bowl ten overs between them at Lord’s at the cost of 112 runs, but white ball skipper Harry Brook remains adamant about the benefits of batting deep and that is obviously what they are sticking to.

Ben Duckett is again expected to open given he has been named in the England XI for the next tie against the Proteas at the Utilita Bowl, even though it is now a dead rubber as the tourists are 2-0 up in the series.

Opportunity

Duckett had of course looked slightly jaded in recent ODI’s and he had been pulled from next week’s T20 against the same opponents, with assistant coach Marcus Trescothick stating that after Sunday’s game he would definitely benefit from a break and an opportunity to recharge his batteries and refresh his mindset.

He did acknowledged that he would be a loss on a more immediate front, but there had to be a long term view about the schedule to come and in his mind he wanted him fresh for that as he fully believed that taking a break would mean he could ‘get back on the horse and crack on’ to the fullest of his potential.

The third ODI XI comprises Jamie Smith, Ben Duckett, Joe Root, Harry Brook (captain), Jos Buttler (wicketkeeper), Jacob Bethell, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid.

With a packed calendar and plenty of competitions and clashes still to be faced it will be interesting to see how it all plays out, but England will definitely want to improve their overall position in the rankings particularly as they look to the World Cup and Trescothick is more than well aware of that.