It’s brothers in arms for Headingley Test

CRICKET Jamie Overton has been called up for England’s final Test against New Zealand, joining twin brother Craig in a 14-man squad.

The uncapped Surrey seamer, who is the younger sibling by three minutes, has been drafted in for next week’s trip to Headingley following a rousing, series-clinching victory at Trent Bridge.

The decision puts the Overtons back on the same side after they came head to head in the LV= Insurance County Championship last week, a meeting that ended with Craig suffering a concussion after Jamie hit him with a bouncer.

England have reported no injury concerns among the bowling group, but the addition suggests they are keen to assess their options in Leeds, having relied on a three-man pace attack of James Anderson, Stuart Broad and newcomer Matthew Potts in the last two Tests.

No twins have played international cricket together for England before, Jane and Jill Powell having represented the women’s team at different times, a record that seems likely to stay intact given Craig has been an unused squad member in the first two games against the Kiwis.

But should conditions favour quick bowlers, as they often do in Leeds, England could choose to replace spinner Jack Leach with an additional pace option and pit the Overtons into direct competition for one place.

Leach is the only frontline spinner in the squad after Matt Parkinson, who made his debut as a concussion substitute for the left-armer at Lord’s and stayed with the squad for the next match, was released to Lancashire.