‘Extra brotherly love’: Craig and Jamie Overton hope to become first twins to play together for England

It is still a long shot perhaps, because they will need to displace incumbents Steven Finn, Mark Wood or David Willey on an England side gearing up for their fourth ODI against New Zealand.

England's Jamie Overton, left, and Craig Overton during nets at Trent Bridge on Tuesday. Reuters / Philip Brown

Twin brothers Craig and Jamie Overton met their England colleagues at Trent Bridge on Tuesday, hoping to join them in the middle against New Zealand in the fourth one-day international on Wednesday.

One after the other

It has been a whirlwind few days already for the 21-year-old brothers from Devon. First, the elder twin, Craig, was called into England’s ODI squad as a replacement for Chris Jordan before the third one-day international at Hampshire on Sunday.

Then, within 48 hours, Jamie took a call from national selector James Whitaker informing him he was needed as well, in place of Liam Plunkett.

A possible first

Should the identical Overtons, who play county cricket for Somerset, make it out of the nets and into the thick of the action as England bid to overturn a 2-1 deficit with two matches to play.

It is still a long shot perhaps, because they will need to displace incumbents Steven Finn, Mark Wood or David Willey – they will become the first twins to play together for England.

‘Interesting week’

The quicker bowler and harder-hitting batsman of the pair, Jamie’s assessment of the past few days tends towards understatement.

“It’s been an interesting week for all of us,” he said, having had to break off during two 2nd XI matches away to Middlesex. “I gave Craig a ring and said I’d see him in Nottingham. Then I spoke to our parents and obviously they are very happy as well.”

Steady improvement

The Overtons have been edging closer to England’s plans for the past three seasons, Jamie was part of the squad for a one-day international series at home to Australia in 2013, while Craig was forced to leave an England Lions tour of South Africa last winter with an ankle injury.

They hit the headlines this summer, too, in a spectacular last-wicket stand against county champions Yorkshire at Taunton last month.

Mutual admirers

Said Jamie of his brother: “I saw a stat the other day that he’s the only player in the country who’s taken 20 wickets at less than 20 as well as scoring 200 runs, which shows he’s one of the best all-rounders (in England).”.

Craig, too, has spotted his brother coming up on the rails again. “Jamie has been bowling quick,” he said. “None of the boys have been looking forward to facing him in the nets, put it that way; especially me, because he always gives me a bit of extra brotherly love.”

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