England’s Jamie Overton ‘trying to be a ninja’ in channelling intensity
England’s Jamie Overton ‘trying to be a ninja’ in channelling intensity
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The England all-rounder’s skills with the bat are also facing a challenge reaching the innings end game in India. Back in late 2019, Somerset’s Lewis Gregory was given an unenviable task: to bat at No 7 in England’s Twenty20 team. In a five-match series against New Zealand he batted just three times. When he got to the crease, time was limited, risks required, the end product a tally of 21 runs from 19 balls for three dismissals.
![[Taha Hashim]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/uploads/2022/10/05/aha_Hashim,_L.png?width=75&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
As a sixth bowler, he was required for just four overs, used across two matches. He played another handful of internationals in the following two years before returning to the shires. It’s a hard, brutal, perhaps even slightly lonely existence down at seven.
![[Jamie Overton with Adelaide Strikers]](https://i.guim.co.uk/img/media/3be375c1a6528fa0374a52be8deaf304e64b9739/0_189_3709_2225/master/3709.jpg?width=445&dpr=1&s=none&crop=none)
It’s a position England have struggled with. Sam Curran has been their most-used man there across T20 internationals but has never looked right as a finisher, his six-hitting power only emerging when given a go up the order. With Curran’s left-arm cutters discarded and England lusting for rockets with the ball, Jamie Overton – once Gregory’s teammate at Somerset – has been asked to fix the problem.
Overton, with a 6ft 5in frame that screams big hits, arrived in India for England’s five-match T20 series with form behind him. A Big Bash campaign with Adelaide Strikers resulted in several red-inkers, the average a whopping 95.5, the strike rate in the 150s. Great numbers, sure, but of little meaning when you then face the best in the world.
After three matches in India, the batting hasn’t clicked, but not for the obvious reasons. While a No 7’s problem can be the lack of overs on offer, Overton has faced another issue, being called in a touch too early, having to rebuild while also letting loose. He emerged in the 12th over in the first two matches and was gone not long after. When granted the luxury of entering during the 14th over in the third T20, he perished immediately to Varun Chakravarthy, his frazzled sweep making no contact, the leg stump knocked back.
