Cricket: Overton Replaces Mahmood For England In Third ODI

Jamie Overton has been recalled to England’s team for the third and final one-day international against South Africa in Southampton on Sunday.

The 31-year-old all-rounder will make his first appearance of the series, replacing seamer Saqib Mahmood following defeats to the Proteas at Headingley and Lord’s.

Earlier this week Overton announced he will take an indefinite break from red-ball cricket to focus on the white-ball game, thereby ruling himself out of this winter’s Ashes series.

He has played six ODIs for England, most recently against West Indies at Edgbaston in May when he made just a single with the bat but then took 3-22 in a crushing 238-run win.

Overton’s return is the only change for England, which means there is continuing backing for all-rounders Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks – plus possibly Joe Root – to collectively split the workload of a fifth bowler rather than picking a specialist.

Bethell and Jacks bowled 10 overs between them at Lord’s at the cost of 112 runs, but white-ball skipper Harry Brook has previously spoken of the benefit of batting deep, and England have resisted the temptation to tweak the structure of the side.

Opener Ben Duckett has also been named in England’s XI for the match against the Proteas at Utilita Bowl, even though it is a dead rubber with the tourists 2-0 up.

Duckett looked sufficiently jaded in the first two ODIs to be pulled from next week’s T20 series against the same opponents.

England assistant coach Marcus Trescothick said Duckett will benefit from the opportunity to recharge the batteries after today’s match.