Overton comes in from the cold for fourth Test

CRAIG OVERTON will be pitched into England’s most important home Test since the fabled 2005 summer after emerging from nowhere to face Australia today. The 6ft 5in Somerset all-rounder (below), who was called up by England for the fourth Test only when Jimmy Anderson suffered a recurrence of his calf injury, comes in for the out-of-sorts Chris Woakes as England take an Ashes gamble. Overton, 25, gets his chance ahead of Sam Curran because England believe his height and bounce will suit what is expected to be the fastest pitch of this series for this pivotal Test with the Ashes deadlocked at 1-1 with two to play. Anderson joined the injured Mark Wood, Olly Stone and Tom Curran on the sidelines, leaving England to plump for a bowler who claimed Steve Smith as his opening Test wicket in the first of three Tests he has played. All of them have ended in defeat. It is in contrast to the bowling riches available to Australia, who are today set to bring in the World Cup’s leading wicket-taker and their fastest bowler Mitchell Starc for his first Test of the Ashes in place of James Pattinson. ‘The extra bounce of a taller bowler gives us a different option on a ground that does perform slightly differently,’ said England captain Joe Root. ‘It will balance our attack really well in these conditions. Craig is a competitor. You saw him come into Ashes cricket on his debut and he looked very much at home and got himself in a battle. I expect him to do that again this week.’