Surrey all-rounder Jamie Overton appears set for a thrilling winter on the pitch with England, Adelaide Strikers and Chennai Super Kings.
His star is in the ascent having played a pivotal role in England’s recent T20 series win in the Caribbean, his first international honours since his 2022 Test debut against New Zealand in which he made 97.
Those performances, and some impressive outings in the Hundred for Manchester Originals, have not only earned the 30-year-old a return to Adelaide Strikers for the Big Bash League next month, but also an inaugural trip to the Indian Premier League with Chennai Super Kings next spring.
For Overton it is a rapid change of fortune after a summer when he was prevented from bowling because of a fifth stress fracture of the back and forced to play as a specialist batsman for Surrey, the Originals and England.
“It’s been very odd batting at eight and not bowling, and if you’d said to me when I was at Somerset five years ago that I would have been playing as a specialist batsman I would have laughed and said ‘yeah, whatever!’,” Overton told SportsBoom.com.
“It’s just shown that all the work that I’ve done with the bat in the last couple of years, especially in white ball cricket, has begun to be recognised, and it’s nice that the coaches see something in me, and they think I can perform that niche role.
“Hopefully I can keep going with it and can prove the doubters wrong as it’s a really rewarding position when you get everything right. It’s a nice role to have and a nice feeling that you’re being backed to go out and achieve it."
Referring to his recent injury woes, Overton added: “There wasn’t ever a fear I wouldn’t continue playing. Being picked again for England was a different conversation though.
“I trusted in my ability to get back, and if it got me there, it got me there. I knew I was quite close prior to getting the latest stress fracture, but it was just getting my body back to full health and trusting the process to get back in the side.
“I still feel I have a lot left to achieve so it would be nice to try to stay injury free for a bit.”
An injury-free winter could see Overton’s stock rise further.
He said: “I loved my time with the Adelaide Strikers last year so it will be nice to get back out there and see the lads and try to win that title.
“Who knows after that? There is a tour of India after that and the Champions Trophy if selected. It was also brilliant to be picked up by Chennai Super Kings this week and I can’t wait to go and compete with all the world class talent on show in the Indian Premier League.”
This Jamie Overton interview comes courtesy of SportsBoom. For more information visit the website at https://www.sportsboom.com/cricket/