Jamie Overton is shock name in England squad to face India
England have sprung a selection surprise by calling Jamie Overton into their squad for the first Test against India, after their fast-bowling injury woes deepened with Gus Atkinson's absence.
Overton has just one Test cap, three years ago against New Zealand, and has played just three Championship matches in the last two seasons as his white-ball career took centre stage. Overton is a regular in England's limited-overs set-up, but picked up a finger injury in the opening game of the ongoing West Indies series.
After England beat Zimbabwe last month, Overton is one of four new faces in the 14-man squad for the first of five India Tests, which begins on June 20 at Headingley. Also returning are Jacob Bethell, Chris Woakes and Brydon Carse, while the unused Matthew Potts and James Rew drop out, as well as Atkinson, who has a hamstring injury.
Sam Cook is retained at Potts's expense, despite a mixed debut in which he took one for 119.
Bethell will compete with Ollie Pope for the much-discussed No 3 position. Bethell impressed when batting in that position in New Zealand last year when Pope was deputising for Jamie Smith as wicketkeeper.
With Bethell at the Indian Premier League, Pope returned to No 3 against Zimbabwe and promptly followed both openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett in making an excellent hundred. Pope was strongly backed by captain Ben Stokes after that match, but Bethell has impressed with the white-ball squad and remains in the selection shake-up.
Woakes and Josh Tongue will play for England Lions this weekend as they build up their workloads ahead of the Test. That pair, alongside Carse, make up the likely attack, although Overton could come into the picture on the ground where he made his debut two years ago, taking two wickets and scoring 97 with the bat. England have been keen to build a battery of quicks and, being tall and pacy, he fits the bill.
Summer is here 🔆🏏 pic.twitter.com/rIMvVPv7ed
— Ben Stokes (@Benstokes39) June 1, 2025
Stokes considered playing for the Lions, but has chosen to work on his fitness in training after an impressive return against Zimbabwe.
Atkinson joins a long injury list. Already missing are Mark Wood and Olly Stone, while England hope that Jofra Archer could return to Test cricket for the first time since March 2021 in the second or third match of the series. He currently has a minor hand injury, but would need at least one Championship match with Sussex to prove his fitness. Woakes and Carse have only recently returned from injury, while England say Overton's finger problem will be assessed 'daily'.
England squad for first Test against India
Ben Stokes (Durham, capt)
Shoaib Bashir (Somerset)
Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire)
Harry Brook (Yorkshire)
Brydon Carse (Durham)
Sam Cook (Essex)
Zak Crawley (Kent)
Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire)
Jamie Overton (Surrey)
Ollie Pope (Surrey)
Joe Root (Yorkshire)
Jamie Smith (Surrey)
Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)
Chris Woakes (Warwickshire)
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