England’s Jamie Overton out of the summer Tests due to a back injury
England’s fast bowlers face another setback as Jamie Overton is sidelined for the summer Tests against West Indies and Sri Lanka due to a lower-back stress fracture.
Despite a promising debut in June 2022, where he grabbed two wickets and impressed with a fighting 97 at Headingley against New Zealand, back troubles have continued to plague Overton. A stress fracture sidelined him from last year’s Ashes, and after initial scans proved inconclusive, a new diagnosis confirms another stress fracture. This setback is likely to rule him out for the remainder of the English summer.
Confirming the news, a Surrey spokesperson informed ESPNcricinfo that Jamie Overton has a lower-back stress fracture. While his return date remains unclear, he’ll continue rehabilitation under the Surrey medical team’s supervision.
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This injury deals a heavy blow to Overton’s T20 World Cup aspirations. He was a strong contender for selection, according to England’s managing director Rob Key, who called him “very much in the running.” Overton felt discomfort after a County Championship match, dashing his World Cup hopes with some cruel timing.
England’s fast bowling stocks face a significant test this summer. Not only did Stuart Broad retire after the Ashes, but James Anderson is also expected to step away from international cricket after the first Test against West Indies at Lord’s.
New Nottinghamshire signing Josh Tongue’s hopes for a summer Test debut are dashed by a pectoral muscle setback. The fast bowler, who arrived from Worcestershire in the off-season, remains sidelined with no clear timeframe for his return. “He’s suffered a worsening of his original injury,” confirmed an ECB spokesperson.
Lancashire’s bowling attack faced limitations in their Championship match against Durham. Saqib Mahmood, recovering from stress fractures, made multiple trips on and off the field on the final morning, while Matthew Potts’ contribution was limited to just three overs in the second innings.
