Overton and out: Jamie's fresh start with Surrey, while Craig opts to stay put at Somerset

SAM DALLING: For Somerset it was a bitter pill to swallow. Years of time and money invested in one of their own. Now he walks away. That’s sport, nothing personal

With the Bob Willis Trophy bubbling along nicely, Somerset’s clash with Northants is done and dusted. The Cidermen are two from two inside two days. Less smash and grab, more smash and keep smashing. It draws to a close a topsy-turvy period.

On the field they’re in fine form: familiar batting frailties pushed aside by an attack blowing opposition sides away.

Off the field, things have been more complex. The elephants in the room have been the Overton twins; where would they be plying their trade come 2021?

On the eve of the season all was calm. Then late that night news broke that Jamie would be heading for the exit door and not looking back.

A busy first morning became a frantic one for the office staff. New protocols to oversee and now a press release to draft. For some, it was their first day back from furlough. Welcome to the jungle.

Official word came and the Kia Oval was confirmed as the destination. Eyes rolled. Another one. Surrey are delighted. They believe their man can reach the next level.

For Somerset it was a bitter pill to swallow. Years of time and money invested in one of their own. Now he walks away. That’s sport, nothing personal.

Jason Kerr and Andy Hurry pride themselves on progressing local talent through the ranks, and they’ve done a marvelous job.

Skipper Tom Abell has lived a stone’s throw from the ground most of his life, and the Overton brothers were joined in England’s 55-man training group by a quartet of fellow academy graduates: Lewis Gregory, Tom Banton, Dom Bess and Jack Leach.

^{Overton is highly rated in ECB circles}

The twins have been around a while now. They hit the headlines back in 2012 when juggling A-Level exams with professional cricket. But while Craig has flourished, Jamie’s career has stuttered. No one doubts his talent. An X-factor bowler long since tipped to go all the way. But you can’t dine out on being a hot prospect forever.

At some point you must deliver and deliver consistently; 176 wickets at 29 apiece isn’t a bad return, though more blending in with the crowd than standing up to be counted.

Earmarked for international honours early, England still desperately want him to come good. Little wonder; he looks like a fast bowler and bowls like one too. An intimidating frame coupled with genuine pace. Properly quick.

Buckets for hands and he strikes a long ball. The perfect formula for a tour down under? Yes, but he must pull up trees in county cricket first. It all started with an impressive 35 victims in his first full season. The sky was the limit.

The next four years were disappointing though, with a best return of just 17 wickets. Injuries played their part and there have been devastating spells; a lack of consistency has been problematic.

Somerset’s side is a tough nut to crack. As it should be, selection is based on merit and Jamie frequently found himself on the outside looking in. That much was obvious last year when he was farmed out on loan to Northants. The move was tepid but the paceman returned to Taunton with fire in his belly.

A stellar second half of the campaign saw him claim 28 wickets at just 18. Something seemed to have clicked. His time had come and 2020 would be his year. And then he was gone, or at least he will be. Overton and out.

Sometimes a fresh start is just what the doctor ordered. Surrey will be getting excited. Twelve wickets already in the Bob Willis Trophy, his pace is up and the radar on target.  He smashed a half-century yesterday too. The rumours of him leaving on loan persist but until then there will be no lack of heart.

^{Jamie Overton has taken 176 first-class wickets}

With one departing, attention turned to his sibling. If losing Jamie is hard to take, Craig’s departure would have been soul destroying. He’s their key man, the leader of the attack.

Pressed on the possibility of going elsewhere during the opening round of games, the allrounder played it with a straight bat. Nothing committal either way.

One thing was crystal clear; his ambition is to establish himself in the Test side and Somerset isn’t always considered the best place to be – worrying words although not unexpected during a negotiation.

Time stood still for a while in the county. Tech-savvy fans hammered F5. The club’s award-winning Twitter account was monitored with eagle eyes.

And then came the news. The answer was stick rather than twist. A palpable sigh of relief was released across the Quantocks.

It’s a huge statement for Somerset. Whatever they threw at him to stay, it’s worth every penny. For the player it’s the right call as well. He loves the club and his star is shining brightly. No need to upset the apple cart. The Northants game saw him pick up his 300th first class victim.

For him consistency has never been an issue, that nagging off-stump line rarely wavering. The powers that be made it clear that an extra yard of pace was needed.

The evidence so far suggests he’s found it without losing any of the relentless accuracy that has troubled top-tier batsmen around the land. He can bat too, although his average probably needs to head north slightly. Like his brother, he notched a second innings fifty at Wantage Road. The one-upmanship will continue to the bitter end.

Can he realise his international dreams? To date, he has made four appearances in an England shirt, and was named one of the nine Test reserves at the start of July.

He and Ollie Robinson took the new ball when the Lions last took to the field. Robinson looks to have inched in front but Overton is jostling hard.

It’s cruel in some ways for the Somerset faithful that the twins have operated in tandem beautifully over the past few weeks. That’s been a surprisingly rare sight. What might have been.

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