Overton not sure to be fit for MCG due to rib injury

Craig Overton admits it may be “tough” for him to be fit in time for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne.

Overton earned plaudits for his bravery in his first two Tests, but suffered a hairline rib fracture. The 23-year-old was first in the wars when he took a blow to his chest on debut in Adelaide from a delivery from fast bowler Pat Cummins which missed his protective guard.

Overton was declared fit for the third Test in Perth, where England lost by an innings and Australia regained the Ashes with an unassailable 3-0 lead.

It was there that the Somerset seamer took a tumble, diving to his left to try to pull off a caughtand-bowled. A scan subsequently revealed the extent of his injury.

Asked if he will recover in time to for the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, Overton replied: “We’re not sure at the moment. It will be reassessed in the next couple of days. At the minute, there’s quite a lot of swelling around the ribs. If that settles down quickly, who knows? Melbourne might be tough, but there will still be a chance for Sydney.”

Overton may have to be spared the MCG for his own good after he bowled 24 overs while Australia amassed a record 662 for nine declared at the WACA.

He added: “It was still sore at the time and it wasn’t easy to bowl those overs, but I hope it helped the boys out a little bit.”

Overton had already hurt himself before the majority of them.

“We weren’t too worried about [the injury] in the build-up to [Perth]. I was fine in the nets... no scan, nothing before the game,” he added.

“Obviously there was a bit of bruising there, but that was about it really.

“It was just going for that caught-and-bowled off Ussie Khawaja, landed on the same spot, and the bruising made it worse.

“Then going for that bumper to Khawaja again, it sort of went then – and that’s when the pain really started.

“It’s across the front. So when you press it, it’s quite sore.”