Jamie Overton voluntarily relinquishes his chances for the Ashes due to unspecified reasons.

Jamie Overton Takes a Break from Red-Ball Cricket, Focuses on White-Ball Formats

Jamie Overton, the 31-year-old Surrey fast bowler, has announced an indefinite break from red-ball cricket. Overton, who made his Test debut in 2022 at Headingley against New Zealand, scoring 97 in a match-winning stand with Jonny Bairstow, has played only two Tests since his first-class debut in 2012 and has appeared in 99 first-class matches.

Overton's decision to focus on white-ball cricket comes after a series of injuries and niggles that forced him to miss the opening game in The Hundred. These issues, which include soreness in his shoulder, hip, and groin, have been a concern for Overton, who bowled 38 overs against India in July, his most in three years.

Despite these setbacks, Overton has found success in white-ball cricket. He made his IPL debut with Chennai Super Kings this year, being bought in the auction for approximately £150,000. Overton also had a stellar season with the Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League last year, earning the MVP title. He has now returned to the Strikers for the 2025 season.

Overton's frustration at not being able to establish himself in Tests is evident. He stated that the demands of cricket across a 12-month calendar are too much for him to commit fully to all formats at every level, both physically and mentally. Jamie Overton, who has never had an England central contract, also mentioned that a Test appearance brings in about £15,000, while in The Hundred, he earns around £25,000 per match.

Despite his decision to focus on white-ball cricket, Overton acknowledged the dream of playing 100 Tests may not come true. He has played only five first-class matches since the beginning of 2024, due to repeated injuries, and played just one game in the County Championship this year. Overton will now turn out for Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash League, having spent the past two seasons with them and being named MVP earlier in 2025.

Overton's career has been marked by resilience, as he has suffered five stress fractures over his career. Despite these challenges, he remains a formidable force in white-ball cricket, and his fans eagerly await his performances in the Big Bash League.

Jamie Overton voluntarily relinquishes his chances for the Ashes due to unspecified reasons.