In a surprising move, England all-rounder Jamie Overton has announced an indefinite break from red-ball cricket, including Test matches. The 31-year-old cricketer, who was part of the Test series against India earlier this year, confirmed that he wants to step away from the longest format of the game to focus on limited-overs cricket.

The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) revealed this development in a press release on September 1, leaving many fans and officials taken aback.

Focus Shifts to White-Ball Cricket

Overton, who also represents London Spirit in The Hundred, stated that at this stage of his career, it is difficult to remain active for 12 months in all formats. He described the pressure of playing continuous cricket as “mentally and physically challenging,” but acknowledged that first-class cricket laid the foundation of his career.

The fast-bowling all-rounder emphasized that he now wants to prolong his playing career by concentrating solely on limited-overs formats.

Last Test Against India

Jamie Overton featured in just two Test matches for England, the last of which came against India at The Oval. Across those games, he picked up 4 wickets and scored 106 runs. In his final Test appearance, he managed only 2 wickets and 9 runs, unable to prevent England’s defeat.

First-Class Record

While his international red-ball career remained short, Overton had a solid domestic run. Playing for Somerset and Surrey in the County Championship, as well as for England A, he accumulated:

• 99 first-class matches

• 239 wickets

• 2410 runs

Impact on England’s Plans

Overton was seen as a potential candidate for the upcoming Ashes tour of Australia later this year. With his sudden decision to step away from Test cricket, England’s selectors will now have to revisit their squad strategy.

For now, Overton’s focus remains clear—excel in white-ball formats and continue contributing to his teams in domestic and franchise cricket.