Top 10 justification: Why Jamie Overton is the hottest prospect in English cricket

Jamie Overton of Somerset is congratulated by his brother, Craig, after hitting a maiden half-century (Getty)

No player exemplifies the excitement surrounding English cricket better than Jamie Overton, who has enjoyed a sensational season at Taunton. The same could be said of Dan Lawrence who in April become just the third 17-year-old to score a County Championship century – a superb 161 against Surrey at the Oval.

With ball in hand, Matthew Fisher is another precocious performer and was the youngest county debutant, at the age of 15, since WW2 when he made his Yorkshire bow in 2012. Australia got a close up view of Ben Duckett at Wantage Road yesterday and they might come across him again sooner rather than later if he continues his 2015 form. Tom Abell, meanwhile, is as composed young player as you’re likely to see

Any youngster who breaks into the Yorkshire first team is clearly quite some player and both county and country have high hopes for Will Rhodes. England under-19’s one-day skipper, Glamorgan starlet Anuerin Donald, is also a player capable of lighting the blue touch paper. Dominic Sibley has had a couple of quiet seasons after his double hundred for Surrey in 2013 but he’s another who’s capable of playing at the very highest level. As is Craig Miles, a pace bowler with a huge future. Mason Crane, a leg-spinning star in the making, has set tongues wagging after impressing in all formats for Hampshire.

The top 10:

1: Craig Overton, 21, Somerset, all-rounder

Like his towering twin, Jamie, Craig has already been involved with the England set-up – and will be again. Sooner rather than later.

2: Dan Lawrence, 18, Essex, batsman

The third youngest scorer of a County Championship century in April, Lawrence will have to shoulder great expectations from now on.

3: Matthew Fisher, 17, Yorkshire, fast bowler

Another product of Yorkshire’s fabled academy, the prodigiously talented Fisher could prove to be the best of the lot.

4: Ben Duckett, 20, Northamptonshire, batsman

The powerfully-built batsman shone in the under-19 World Cup in 2014 and has scored runs by the bucket-load for Northants this summer.

5: Tom Abell, 21, Somerset, batsman

A well-organised and composed opener, the Taunton-born opener could one-day follow in the vaunted footsteps of team-mate Marcus Trescothick.

6: Will Rhodes, 20, Yorkshire, all-rounder

The former England under-19 international has made huge strides this season, revelling in the faith shown in him by Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie.

7: Anuerin Donald, 18, Glamorgan, batsman

Glamorgan have high hopes for England under-19’s one-day skipper – and for good reason.

8: Dominic Sibley, 19, Surrey, batsman

The Surrey starlet scored a County Championship double hundred back in 2013 and still has plenty of time to fulfil his extraordinary potential.

9: Craig Miles, 21, Gloucestershire, fast bowler

He made his Gloucestershire debut at the age of 16. Now, five years on, he stands out as one of Division Two’s most outstanding prospects.

10: Mason Crane, 18, Hampshire, leg-spinner

The academy product took five County Championship wickets against Warwickshire earlier this month and has shown nerves of steel in one-day cricket.