ENGLAND TO TAKE A NEW OVER VIEW
THE time is right for England’s young bowlers to stand up and be counted.
And offer hope that there is a future beyond legends Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad (together below).
That’s the view of Craig Overton, one of the seamers who will have to fill their massive boots in the 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, 27, is aiming to play a full part in arresting England’s alarming slump in Test fortunes.
He said: “You have to give a chance to the young boys and they have to show that they can actually do it.
“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 you can go out and play at that level.
“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 so far has been deeply frustrating.
He could only watch on as England were demolished 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. With all the bubbles you just can’t go out and play first-class games, you have to do your work in the nets and make sure you are ready when the chance comes up.
“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 and to have the chance to play all three Tests would be ideal.
“It gives me a chance to claim a spot for the future as well.”