Last Updated on 2 hours ago by Charbel Coorey
Craig Overton has transferred his good County form this year with Somerset into the Hundred with Trent Rockets.
Overton is the leading wicket taker among the fast bowlers of the team with six wickets in 80 balls for 99 runs. He has also contributed with the bat, helping the Trent Rockets secure a narrow win. His performances over the last two weeks have been an extension of a good season in red-ball cricket.
One of Overton’s best moments of the tournament this year came on Sunday at Trent Bridge against his twin brother Jamie. The brothers, who had grown up competing against each other in Devon, found themselves on opposite sides in a tense finish. Craig hit Jamie for a six over fine leg as Trent Rockets needed 10 runs from the last five balls. He ran two twos to help his team win, with their parents watching the memorable contest from the stands.
But that innings – 20 not out off six balls to help the Rockets to victory – is nothing compared to his performance in the Blast Quarter Finals at Headingley last month. Overton arrived with Somerset at 59 for 7 and, with lower-order batsman Riley Meredith for company, smashed 79 not out off 30 balls as he pulled off an improbable chase of 162 to drag his team to Finals Day on his own.
Craig Overton feels he can replace Ben Stokes in Test cricket
In the 2026 County Championship, Overton has scored 548 runs at an average of 45.66 with three hundreds. He has also taken 33 wickets at an average of 19.54.
Speaking to Cricinfo’s Matt Roller regarding a possible Test recall after Ben Stokes’ retirement, Overton said “I’d like to think so, from what I’ve done this summer, I feel like I could go close, but there’s a lot of other good cricketers that are competing for that role. It depends on what type of player they want to fill that role with. I’m sure there are a few ways that they could go.
However, Overton admitted his batting needs to go to another level if he is to bat in the top seven for England.
“Growing up, I always wanted to be a batter that bowled a little bit. It’s a big thing for me, trying to score runs for the team and being that almost-complete allrounder,” he said.
“I’m probably not quite there with the bat, but it’s something that I’m trying to work on. If I can get up to that, that’d be great, but it’s probably pushing it a little bit.”
Overton on questions over his pace: “I’m never going to be a bowler that can run in and bowl 90 mph”
Craig Overton said he has not had any contact with the England set-up since his last inclusion in a Test squad four years ago. He admitted the team’s liking for express pace under Brendon McCullum made it hard for him to break into the side.
When asked about his speed with the ball, Overton said, “I’m never going to be one of those guys who is running in at 90 mph bowling. If England wanted bowlers of that sort of pace, then the selectors would, of course pick players who could bowl it consistently.”
The Somerset seamer also had a reminder that there is more than one way to be a success in Test cricket. He feels that bowlers don’t always need extreme pace to trouble batters as skill, accuracy and movement can be just as effective.
“There’s a lot of bowlers around the world who have had success in the low 80s because they know how to use their strengths,” he said.
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