On talking about his selection he said, “I have James Whittaker’s (England chairman of selectors) number in my phone so when it started ringing I knew it was him and knew it was probably good news,” he says. “I had just arrived home and just parked up in my driveway. It was perfect timing.
“I called my dad, then I tried ringing my mum who had been watching us at Taunton. She was driving so she couldn’t answer so then I phoned Jamie.
“Jamie was really happy, obviously he has had a disappointing end of the season but we’re close enough that when we get rewards like this we’re really happy for each other. I’m sure it will drive him more as well. He’ll be pushing for a place soon.”
Jimmy Whittaker, England selector said “We have been impressed with the way Craig Overton has led Somerset’s attack over a long period of time. He has taken 43 Championship wickets this summer and will relish playing in Australian conditions.”
“We have both been in different squads at different times. It seems to be quite funny that one of us gets ahead and then the other does. Success just pushes the other one even harder.”
Overton will hope it’s a case of double trouble for the Aussies this winter, with his brother already mentioning plans to head to Australia to join him on Twitter.
The chances of Jamie one day following in Craig’s footsteps into the England Test side are already high. For now, though, it’s Craig who has a chance to live out his childhood dreams of taking on the Aussies in their own backyard.
“As a kid you always want to play in the Ashes and I think it makes it even more special that it’s Down Under and it will be my first proper Test series,” he says. “I can’t wait to get out there, hopefully it will be lots of fun. Games in the garden with Jamie would always be England v England, you can’t be Aussies can you.”