Craig Overton Test comeback bid after Somerset Finals Day heroics

Craig Overton is positioning himself for a potential return to England’s Test squad following a period of recovery and renewed domestic form. The Somerset all-rounder has not played Test cricket since March 24, 2022, when he featured against West Indies. His last Test appearance came nearly four and a half years before the current date of August 3, 2026. Overton underwent double hernia surgery in late 2025, which forced him to miss the SA20 window earlier in the year.

His domestic form strengthened considerably during the 2026 season. In 14 matches, Overton accumulated 185 runs at an average of 46.25 with a strike rate of 176.2, including a best score of 82. He also took 15 wickets at an economy rate of 8.40. Most notably, on July 18, 2026, Overton hit the winning runs off the final delivery to guide Somerset to Finals Day at Edgbaston.

“I was hoping to be fit for the SA20, but I wasn’t quite ready. Sometimes the body needs a bit of a break, and it probably came at a good time… I had the whole winter to work on a few things. I’ve worked on my hand positions, keeping them closer to my body so I’m not leaning over as much. I had a habit of falling over [to the off side] and getting hit on the pad or bowled, which is pretty common for tall guys. It’s taken a while to figure out what works for me, but it seems to have clicked,” said Overton to Cricinfo.

Contention for Test recall after Stokes’ retirement

England are set to announce their squad for the upcoming Test series against Pakistan, with Ben Stokes’ retirement leaving a significant void in both the batting and all-round departments. His absence has opened the door for several players to stake their claim for a place in the squad. Among the contenders, Overton has emerged as a strong candidate following an impressive run in domestic cricket.

“I’d like to think so. From what I’ve done this summer, I feel like I could go close, but there’s a lot of other good cricketers that are competing for that role. It depends on what type of player they want to fill that role with. I’m sure there’s a few ways that they could go,” said Overton.