Jamie Overton has announced that he will step away from first-class cricket with immediate effect, ruling himself out of England’s upcoming Ashes tour to focus on white-ball formats and the global franchise circuit.
The 31-year-old fast bowler, who made his Test debut against New Zealand at Headingley in June 2022, featured most recently in the fifth Test against India at The Oval in July 2025. These have been his only two outings in the format, where he scored 106 runs at 35.33, including a highest of 97, and took four wickets.
Jamie Overton: My body doesn't handle Test cricket as well as I'd like
Overton confirmed the decision after discussions with England managing director Rob Key and head coach Brendon McCullum, both of whom had earmarked him for the Ashes squad this winter. “It’s been a very tough decision, but one I’m happy I made,” he told Telegraph Sport. “Growing up, like every young cricketer, it was my dream to play Test cricket, and I’ve loved every minute of my red-ball career. But at this point of my career my body just doesn’t handle it as well as I’d like it to.”
The all-rounder explained that the physical toll of red-ball cricket had accelerated his move away from the format. His recall for the India Test, where he bowled 38 overs in the match, the most he had delivered in a first-class game for three years, left him struggling with shoulder soreness, a groin issue and a hip niggle. He missed the first game of The Hundred as a result. “Test cricket is very special, but it takes a lot out of you,” he said. “I’ve not played a massive amount of Test cricket, but I need to prioritise my future, so it was trying to do the right thing at the right moment.”
Overton, who has battled five stress fractures in his career, admitted he could not risk another long-term injury. “I am not the first [to make a decision like this] and I won’t be the last,” he said. “They [injuries] have all come pretty late in my career, and if I had another one now, it would take a very long time to come back. At this point, I can’t afford another injury.”
Despite confirming he will not pursue red-ball cricket, Overton has not formally retired from the format. “You can never say never,” he said. “I would love to be on that Ashes tour. I would love to play in that. But body-wise, it doesn’t make sense to keep putting myself in those situations, taking that risk of losing a year or two when I may not have many left.”
He confirmed his future plans to Surrey, where he has been playing since 2020: "At this stage of my career, with the demands of cricket across a 12-month calendar, it’s no longer possible to commit fully to all formats at every level, both physically and mentally. Going forward, my focus will be on white-ball cricket, and I will continue to give everything to play at the highest level for as long as I can.”
Overton has played 99 first-class games, picking up 239 wickets, alongside scoring 2,410 runs with the bat since his debut in May 2012. He will continue playing white-ball cricket and has also been picked in the ODI squad against South Africa, beginning on Tuesday.
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