Ashes 2017: Changed man Craig Overton ready to take his England chance

Improved on-field discipline and focus saw the 23-year-old take 46 wickets at 22.39 last summer, form that was good enough to earn him a place in England’s squad

Craig Overton is ready to make his England debut if called upon (Getty)

Craig Overton is looking ahead to the prospect of making his England debut in this winter’s Ashes series with renewed purpose and the belief that he is a changed man.

On-field anger, most famously the incident in September 2015 that saw him caught up in a racism storm, blighted the Somerset bowler’s career before work with a psychologist curbed the red mist.

Improved on-field discipline and focus saw the 23-year-old take 46 wickets at 22.39 last summer, form that was good enough to earn him a place in England’s squad for the biggest tour of all.

Now, with less than three weeks before the first Ashes Test at the Gabba, Overton is the man who appears most likely to come into England’s team to replace the sizeable hole left by the absence of Ben Stokes.

That prospect seemed a long way off two years ago when Overton was accused of telling Pakistan-born all-rounder Ashar Zaidi, then of Sussex, to “go back to your own f***ing country” during a County Championship match.

Overton denies those words were ever said.

He was later charged with a level-one breach for abusive language by the England & Wales Cricket Board’s Cricket Discipline Commission, which does not include language “that vilifies another on the basis of race or national origin”.

Yet as his third offence in the space of a year, Overton received an automatic ban. Soul searching with coach Matt Maynard and plenty of introspection followed, including work with psychologist Abbie Kench.

England arrived in Perth last weekend (Getty)

The results have been there for all to see and now Overton is in line for a Test debut in Brisbane on November 23 if he can underline his claims in England’s three warm-up games, starting against a Western Australia XI in Perth starting on Saturday.

“I’ve calmed down the last couple of years and I think what happened has made me realise you can’t go on acting like that,” he said. “It’s matured me a little bit which I’m really happy with and I’ve moved on from that.

“It was a massive turning point. It was not just that incident but the whole summer where there were a few instances and it is just making sure that I switched on because that’s not how you behave on a cricket field.

“That’s one thing I’ve learned with my psychologist – you can’t act like that and I’ve found ways of dealing with it. Matt Maynard was using her for some of the coaching staff and he just asked if I wanted to go see her and I was really happy to. She did a lot of work with me.

“I don’t want to lose the edge it’s just finding the right balance and not going too far.”

Overton is ready to take his opportunity in Australia (AFP)

Was changing his ways hard? “Not really. It’s been quite a smooth transition. There’s times I do still push it a bit and then the older guys in the side say just keep it in check. But it’s definitely less often now which is good.”

But could the red mist descend again in the heat of Ashes battle, especially with Australia reputation for sledging opponents?

“I wouldn’t have thought so no,” says Overton. “But it’s just part and parcel of cricket. They will try and make the most of it but that’s the way it is sometimes. You’ve just got to respect that and not give it back but try and take it and use it for yourself.”

The opportunity to play Test cricket for England whatever the series is one every player dreams of. But he is not fazed by the thought of making his debut at the Gabba.

“It’s a big tour for me so I’ll take the opportunities that come and it’ll be a good experience,” he said. “There’s a good chance I’m going to be playing so it’s making sure I’m going to be ready if selected for that first Test.

“You can’t be too fearful of it. You’ve got to enjoy it and make sure you make the most it. Playing Test cricket for England doesn’t last forever so you’ve got to make sure you enjoy it as much as possible.

Overton isn't fazed by the possibility of making his debut in Brisbane (AFP)

“My game’s progressed really nicely the last couple of years at Somerset so hopefully it feels like the right time and I can take my chance if it comes.”

Overton’s batting, he averages in the twenties in first-class cricket, is one area that may give him the edge in selection. But it is his bowling, especially his ability to move the ball, that will be paramount on this tour.

“Pace is one thing I’ve worked on the last couple of years – just increasing that pace a bit and trying to get into the mid 80s. It’s not something I try and force too much, it’s more skill.”

There is a healthy rivalry between Overton and twin brother Jamie, who like Craig has been called into England ODI squads but has yet to make his international debut, but there is no jealousy about the former’s Ashes opportunity.

“He’s happy for me,” said Overton. “We work pretty well together. He’s been through a pretty tough few years and he’s really happy with the way I’ve gone. Hopefully he’ll be following in my footsteps.”