Craig Overton called up for ODI series in New Zealand

Craig Overton, who made his Test debut during England’s Ashes 2017-18 tour of Australia, has got a call-up to the ODI squad for the upcoming series in New Zealand following Liam Plunkett’s hamstring injury.

Plunkett, 32, suffered a grade 1 tear on his left hamstring during England’s third ODI against Australia last month and missed the final two matches of the series. Having sat out of the opening two games of the Trans-Tasman Tri-Nation Twenty20 International series against Australia, Plunkett came in for the third match against New Zealand and aggravated his injury on his way to returns of 0/33 from four overs.

That has opened the door for Overton, the Somerset seamer.

Overton, 23, made a good impression in his first bowling innings in Test cricket, picking up 3/105 at the Adelaide Oval and dismissing Australia captain Steve Smith. He also made a decent batting contribution, scoring 41 not out in England's first innings. In the third Test at Perth he sustained a fractured rib while diving for a caught-and-bowled chance, which ended his Ashes tour.

Overton has never played limited-overs international cricket for England but has been in the periphery of selection and was even in the squad for the three-match Twenty20 International series against South Africa at home in mid-2017 without getting a game.

In 51 List A games, Overton has picked up 58 wickets at an average of 34.94, and in 29 T20s he has 22 wickets at an average of 37.54 with an economy rate of 9.28.

The first ODI in England’s tour of New Zealand will be played at Hamilton’s Seddon Park on 25 February, with fixtures in Mount Maunganui, Wellington, Dunedin and Christchurch to follow. The two teams will then play two Test matches.

Squad: Eoin Morgan (capt), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler (wk), Tom Curran, Alex Hales, Craig Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, David Willey, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.