Craig Overton delivers timely reminder to England selectors

SAM DALLING: The Somerset seamer saw his brother's move to Surrey confirmed on Saturday, but he did his talking on the field to give his side the upper hand against Glamorgan

• Bob Willis Trophy Digest: Round-up of day two
• Surrey to sign Somerset's Overton

It’s supposed to be a batsman’s game. Little evidence of that before tea on the opening two days of this clash between Somerset and Glamorgan. 

A pair of half-centuries in the game so far, with one coming from a number 11 swinging from the hip. 

That’s set to change tomorrow, but in the meantime Somerset’s twin all-rounders have grabbed the headlines. 

Their lifelong game of one-upmanship has gone to a new level.  Yesterday it was Jamie Overton making waves off the field. Today was Craig’s turn in the spotlight, pressing his claims for a Test recall.  

Outstanding from the get-go, he helped himself to the Bob Willis Trophy’s first, and thus far only, five-wicket haul. It only cost him 38 runs. 

Josh Davey again proved his value with a pair of wickets, while Jamie – who bowled at the speed of light – did likewise. 

With the visitors dismissed for just 131, and Somerset’s lead stretched to 296 at stumps, a home win is a safe bet.  And it’s thanks to those bowling all-rounders; a Taunton delicacy right now.  

Pete Trego led the way for a decade-plus, and Jamie, Lewis Gregory, Davey, Craig Meschede and Tim Groenewald have all followed suit. But Craig could be the cream of the crop. 

Gregory may contest the point, but he wasn’t here. Overton was, and his line and length were immaculate. An irresistible combo.  

Craig Meschede retires with a clear conscience: "I can’t sacrifice my health for success"

He finished three shy of 300 first-class victims. That milestone will come this almost certainly come this week. Not bad for someone for a 20-something. And proof – as if it were needed – that Somerset must move heaven and earth to keep him. 

Domestically he’s a fine bowler. One of the best on the circuit. A key cog Tom Abell’s wheel.  But whether the Devon boy can prosper at international level remains to be seen. 

There’s a hatful of footballers lumped in the “too good for the Championship, not quite good enough for the Premier League” category. Think Darren Huckerby or more recently Dwight Gayle. 

Right now, Overton is cricket’s equivalent. His nine international victims have cost more than 44 a pop - 20 runs more than he picks them up domestically. 

That hardly screams “pick me”, although in mitigation, the sample size is small, and three of his four test outings have come against the Aussies.  Another obstacle is pace. 90mph is in vogue and Overton is a few yards short. 

^{Craig Overton ripped through Glamorgan's batting line-up}

If England want real gas, they need the other brother.

Speed isn’t everything mind. One could point to Anderson and Broad, but that’s apples with pears. The former took 46 test wickets the year he turned 26, while the latter had racked up a half-century of Test caps by the same stage. Both will go down as all-time greats. 

A more suitable comparator can be found up the M25. Like Overton, Chris Woakes had to earn his stripes domestically, and it felt like an eternity before the Warwickshire established himself in the test side.  

The similarities don’t stop there either. Both can call upon repeatable actions, albeit Woakes is easier on the eye. And, assuming Overton plays no part in the Pakistan series, they’ll have the same number of test caps on a like-for-like basis.  

Craig’s neck is even slightly in front after four games; beating Woakes’ eight by one. But the acid test comes when the boots are hung up. If Overton is within touching distance of the World Cup winner he’ll be delighted. 

Batting wise the gap is greater. Overton is handy but Woakes boasts a far superior record.  From 90 first-class outings, the Birmingham lad had nine centuries. The Somerset man has notched up a solitary effort. Overton’s career average is 20. Woakes is 15 higher. 

The end of the world? No. Then again if you want a spot at eight or nine, chipping in lower-order runs is vital, especially considering England’s recent history of collapse. 

Overton is still very much on selectors’ radar. He toured down under with Lions this winter and was instrumental in dispatching a strong Australia outfit in the unofficial test at the MCG. 

He took the new ball and dismissed test stars Usman Khawaja and Nic Maddison twice each, ending the clash with six victims.

That whole trip was designed with the next Ashes in mind. If it was a dress rehearsal, Overton didn’t fluff his lines. The next 12 months are crucial - make or break for his test aspirations. 

It’s no secret his county contract is up. Moving would be a mistake though.  Why throw your life upside down when your name’s already in the hat?  One hell of a risk. Hardly like the Cidermen are the basement boys either. 

An extra yard of pace would be a godsend. It was probably the making of Woakes, but should it come accuracy shouldn’t be sacrificed. It’s going to be a close-run thing. Maybe even be a photo finish. Either way, at least he had a go. Plenty haven’t. Worse things to be than a Westcountry legend. 

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