Jamie Overton Steps Away From Red-Ball Cricket Indefinitely, Rules Himself Out Of Ashes

England fast bowler Jamie Overton has taken an indefinite break from red-ball cricket, saying he cannot, at this stage of his career, commit to all formats “mentally and physically.” The call rules him out of this winter’s Ashes in Australia, where he had been widely tipped to feature thanks to his pace, bounce, and recent Test involvement against India. He will focus on white-ball cricket, including a return to the Big Bash with Adelaide Strikers, where he was named MVP last season.

Overton, 31, has played two Tests—debuting in 2022 at Headingley with a memorable 97 alongside Jonny Bairstow—and featured again this July at The Oval, taking two wickets in a tight, six-run defeat. Though injuries have limited his first-class appearances for Surrey over the last two seasons, his 90mph profile kept him firmly in England’s Ashes thinking. White-ball captain and Test teammate Harry Brook called the decision “a bit of a shock,” but backed Overton’s right to prioritise formats that suit his current bandwidth.

England Men’s director of cricket Rob Key said Overton would have been part of red-ball plans, but accepted the reality of a crowded calendar and welcomed the early clarity. The move may slightly reshape England’s seam pecking order for the Ashes, nudging options like Matthew Potts and others further into the frame for the hard Australian decks, while Overton channels all his energy into white-ball skills—power-hitting depth and high-pace bursts—that made him so effective in the BBL.