England Recall Jamie Overton For First Test Against India

With Gus Atkinson ruled out of the first Test against India at Headingley, England have recalled Jamie Overton to the Test squad after a three-year absence. Overton, who made his only Test appearance at the same venue against New Zealand in June 2022, returns as a potential solution to England's depleted pace attack.

Although the series opener is still 15 days away, Overton remains under medical supervision after fracturing the little finger on his right hand during the first ODI against the West Indies last week.

Brydon Carse has also returned to the 14-member squad, joined by Jacob Bethell and Chris Woakes. Both Bethell and Woakes missed the recent Zimbabwe series due to injuries.

Atkinson’s injury has left England’s pace resources looking thin, particularly with Mark Wood and Olly Stone sidelined due to knee issues. Jofra Archer, meanwhile, is not expected to be match-fit until at least the second Test in Birmingham.

With that in mind, Sam Cook and Josh Tongue are likely to serve as backups, while Overton and Woakes are set to shoulder the bulk of the pace-bowling responsibilities at Headingley.

The five-Test series kicks off on June 20 at Headingley, before moving to Edgbaston, Lord’s, Old Trafford, and The Kia Oval.

England squad for the first Test vs India 

Shoaib Bashir, Jacob Bethell, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Ben Stokes (capt), Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes.