Jamie Overton open to Ashes return if Joe Root asks

Jamie Overton says he would consider returning to Test cricket for next year’s Ashes if England captain Joe Root asks him, after taking an indefinite break from the red-ball game to focus on white-ball cricket. [1]

The 32-year-old fast bowler said England white-ball captain Harry Brook had raised the possibility of a Test return, but he had not yet given it serious thought. “If Rooty comes to me and says that then, yeah, then I'll have to have a serious think about it,” he told BBC Sport. [1]

Overton stepped away from Test cricket after playing against India in July 2025, saying he felt physically broken by the match. He bowled 38 overs after Chris Woakes was injured, and said it took him nearly two weeks to recover enough to play in The Hundred. Overton has a history of stress fractures in his back. [1]

He has since focused on limited-overs cricket and is part of England’s squad for the one-day tri-series in Pakistan. Overton said he had never ruled out a return and now felt good after structuring his workloads. [1]

Overton has played two Tests. On his debut against New Zealand in 2022, he scored 99; his most recent appearance was the fifth Test against India in 2025. England have used four frontline seamers in their side since Ben Stokes’ retirement, and a return could also add batting depth, BBC Sport reported. [1]

The next Ashes series will be played in England next summer. Overton missed the previous tour to Australia after deciding the demands were not right for his body. He said playing in the Ashes remained a dream. [1]