Craig: It’s Over to the next gen
IT’S time for England’s young bowlers to stand up and be counted and offer hope that there’s a future beyond Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad.
That’s the view of Craig Overton, one of the bowlers who has to fill their massive boots in the Caribbean against West Indies.
The Somerset man was a passenger on England’s car crash tour of Australia, not playing a Test in a series that Joe Root’s men lost 4-0.
The fallout from that failure has already seen coach Chris Silverwood and managing director Ashley Giles get the chop.
Now Overton is aiming to play a full role in arresting England’s alarming slump in Test fortunes.
“You have to give that chance to the young boys and they have to show that they can actually do it,” he said.
“It’s up to us to make that step up now. You can’t just be reliant on the senior figures all the time.
“You have to be bold enough to show that you can go out and play at that level.
“Yes, not having those guys around is a big loss in terms of experience.
“But for us, it’s a big chance for us to play and show what we can do.”
For Overton – one of the most consistent and dangerous bowlers in county cricket – the winter has so far been hugely frustrating.
He could only watch on as England were demolished by Australia Down Under, kicking his heels as the hosts destroyed a rudderless side.
“It was obviously frustrating not to have the chance to go out and show what I’m capable of,” he added. “But that’s touring these days.
“For the last three or four games I felt like I was ready to go. I didn’t get the nod but that’s Test cricket.
“It just makes me more determined to make the most of this trip. I want three games. That’s what I’ve been working towards.”