Jamie Overton earns first Test call-up

The Surrey fast bowler is the only addition to the squad that took an unassailable lead in the three-match series against New Zealand at Trent Bridge

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Jamie Overton has been called up to England's Test squad for the first time.

The Surrey fast bowler is the only addition to the squad that took an unassailable lead in the three-match series against New Zealand by winning at Trent Bridge on Tuesday. Matt Parkinson drops out from the squad named for the second Test.

Overton joins his brother, Craig, in the 14-strong group, with his selection a reward for an impressive start to the domestic season with both bat and ball. He has taken 21 LV= Insurance County Championship wickets at 21.6 apiece, playing a key role in Surrey's unbeaten start to the summer.

The 28-year-old has also made 212 runs in seven innings, averaging 53 in the process. That second string to his bow could be crucial, with England wary of their lower-order fallibility. None of Stuart Broad, Matthew Potts, Jack Leach, James Anderson nor Parkinson have reached double figures so far in this series.

Overton was first named in an England squad almost a decade ago, when he was included for an ODI series against Australia in 2013. Two years later, in the ground-breaking series for Eoin Morgan's side against New Zealand following the World Cup debacle, he was called up for the last two matches, though once again didn't feature.

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England clinched the series by winning at Trent Bridge (Stu Forster/Getty Images)

Despite that, his extra pace – he forced his brother, Craig, to retire hurt with a bouncer last week when Surrey faced Somerset – has long been considered a weapon worthy of the international game. In the past, his consistency has let him down, as well as injury struggles, but his accuracy has improved with time and his move from Taunton to the Kia Oval has proven successful, while he has also benefited here from England's lengthy injury list.

Harry Brook has also been retained in the squad for the Test on his home ground, though it seems unlikely that he will squeeze into the middle order of a team riding high after chasing 299 in just 50 overs on the fifth afternoon at Trent Bridge.

England squad: Ben Stokes (c), James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Craig Overton, Jamie Overton, Matthew Potts, Ollie Pope, Joe Root


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