IND vs ENG fifth Test: Jamie Overton called up as England search for pace

Sports Cricket

Posted by AI on 2025-07-28 17:33:48 | Last Updated by AI on 2026-05-15 23:47:23

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England have added pace-bowling all-rounder Jamie Overton to their squad for the fifth and final Test against India, with the hosts looking to add variety to their bowling options at Edgbaston.

The 24-year-old, who has played only five first-class matches, could be in line for his debut should England opt for a fourth seamer and rest veteran paceman James Anderson after a long series.

His inclusion is reward for his performances in the County Championship this year, where he finished as the leading wicket-taker in the Division One with 21 wickets, alongside seamers Craig Overton and Ollie Robinson.

The gamble would be a bold one should England opt to go with the rookie, who has only two first-class five-wicket hauls to his name, but it would be just the second time in history that an England player has made his Test debut in the fifth match of a series. The other was Reggie Spooner in 1912, who was also coincidentally an all-rounder and debuted against Australia.

Save the addition of Overton, the 14, who were selected in the previous game, have all been retained. England are likely to field a weakened squad, with several players carrying injuries.

The selection of Overton, who was named in the squad as a replacement for the injured Mark Wood, suggests that England will field a fourth seamer in Birmingham.

With Wood missing and Anderson potentially sitting out, the selectors have added another bowler in Overton who has shown promise in red-ball cricket and can offer a similar kind of pace.

Jamie Overton, the younger brother of Craig Overton, has impressed in the domestic circuit in the last couple of years and earned his maiden call-up to the England squad for the final Test.

At 24, he is relatively young with his international career just beginning, but he has already made a mark in the domestic circuit with his pace and skills.

His inclusion in the squad is a sign that England are looking to go with an attack-minded approach in the final Test, with the series tied at 2-2.

It remains to be seen if he will get the opportunity to make his debut in what could be a series-defining match for England.

Jamie Overton's inclusion in the England squad is a step in the right direction for the seamer, and it will be interesting to see if he can replicate his domestic success at the highest level.

With England searching for pace options, Overton could be a x-factor that they need to win the series, and he will be hoping to back up his stellar domestic performances if called upon.

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