The Somerset seamer has been managing the issue for several seasons but avoided going under the knife. He will rest for four weeks before undergoing a rehabilitation plan with the hope of being part of the club's winter programme after Christmas
Craig Overton has undergone back surgery and faces being sidelined until the New Year.
The Somerset seamer has been managing the issue for several seasons but had avoided going under the knife.
However, following discussions between Overton, twin brother of England teammate and Surrey quick Jamie, and Somerset the decision was taken to opt for a procedure.
Overton will rest for four weeks and then undertake a rehabilitation plan over the winter in the hope of being part of the club's winter programme after Christmas.
"Craig has been managing a back issue for a couple of seasons now," said Jamie Thorpe, Somerset's head of science and medicine.
"We were in a position where we were able to manage the issue with medical interventions in the event of his symptoms becoming too sore, but we came to a point where this course of action was no longer helping to resolve the symptoms.
"Craig and the medical team felt that the time was right to undertake a surgical intervention in order to alleviate the discomfort and pain that he was feeling in his back.
"We've taken the decision because ultimately Craig was in a position where he was unable to perform his skills at his optimum level of intensity. We now have a good block of time throughout the winter in which to focus on his rehab.
"We'll be keeping him on a tight leash for the next four weeks in terms of what he is allowed to do. After that, he'll be undertaking a rehab plan with an eye to him becoming more involved in the club's winter programme after Christmas.
"Craig is a massive part of this club and is a player who the club want to be performing optimally for as long as possible. Everything that we are doing is designed around what is best for Craig in the long term. We will be taking as much time as we can to make sure that he is physically prepared for the season ahead."
Twenty-nine-year-old Overton took 44 wickets and scored over 300 runs across formats for Somerset in 2023 - a season illuminated by winning the T20 Blast - but didn't feature for the club after the County Championship defeat to eventual winners Surrey at Taunton in July.
He was named in the England squad for the one-day international series against Ireland staged in September but failed to add to his 15 caps.
Though international opportunities have dwindled in recent years, Overton retains England aspirations, stating in May he had "a burning ambition to play more international cricket".
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