Jamie Overton open to Ashes return if Root asks — SkimNews
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- Jamie Overton said he would give Joe Root a “serious think” on returning for next year’s Ashes if the England captain contacted him.
- Harry Brook had already raised the possibility of a Test return with Overton “a couple of times,” while Overton said he had “literally not thought about it.”
- Chris Woakes’ dislocated shoulder in the fifth Test against India in July 2025 left Overton to bowl 38 overs; Overton said he felt physically broken and his shoulder remained sore for two weeks.
- Jamie Overton, 32, described his red-ball absence as an indefinite break rather than retirement and said structured workloads over just over a year had left him feeling good despite a history of back stress fractures.
- Ben Stokes’ retirement was followed by England using four frontline seamers with Dan Lawrence batting at No. 6; a returning Overton, who made 97 on his 2022 Test debut, was an option to strengthen lower-order batting.
- Craig Overton has played eight Tests, including the 2017-18 and 2019 Ashes, but said England had not contacted him about a recall earlier that month.
- Australia’s visit to England next summer is likely to be Jamie Overton’s last chance for Ashes cricket after he declined the trip down under the previous year.
Why it matters: For England, next summer’s Ashes is the practical cutoff: Root’s direct request would trigger Overton’s serious consideration, while Overton says his body must be right before he commits. If he returns, the source identifies stronger lower-order batting as the material team gain, citing his 97 on debut.
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