Too slow? Dream debut sees Craig give perfect reply to Smith sledge

CRAIG OVERTON believes England got under Steve Smith’s skin after the debutant became the first bowler to dismiss Australia’s captain during this Ashes series.

The build-up to the second Test — the first-ever day-night Ashes contest — was dominated by talk of on-field verbals.

James Anderson accused the hosts of being ‘bullies’ during the series opener in Brisbane and Smith hit back by branding the leader of England’s attack ‘the biggest sledger in the game’.

Joe Root’s team, led by Stuart Broad and Anderson, went hard at Smith verbally during his time at the crease and it appeared to work as the batsman, whose unbeaten 141 inspired Australia to a 10-wicket win at the Gabba, was bowled for 40 here to become Overton’s first Test wicket.

‘I was on the boundary so didn’t hear too much but they said a few things and it looked like it got under his skin,’ said Overton.

‘The way he left the ball was exaggerated a little bit, he generally didn’t do that in the first game at Brisbane. I don’t know if he was doing that on purpose just to wind us up a little bit — coming back at us. It was nice to get him in the end.’

Overton also said he was the subject of sledging from Smith, confirming: ‘He was saying I was slow so it was nice I beat him for pace. He’s one of the best players in the world so to get that one to start with was great.’

The Somerset bowler, who replaced Jake Ball in England’s XI from Brisbane, revealed he only found out from Root that he was making his debut an hour before the warm-ups.

‘It was just a brief chat saying I was in and then it was straight over to the nets for a hit,’ he said. The 23-year-old, whose parents were here to witness his debut, also admitted the whole day was an emotional rollercoaster.

‘It’s massive,’ he said. ‘My dream as a kid was to play for England and to play in an Ashes Test in Australia makes it even more special.

‘You can’t put into words what it means. It was nice my folks were here to see it. Hopefully I’ve made them proud — I think I have.’