England recruits teen for Aussie ODIs

JAMIE OVERTON, who turned 19 in April, will become England's youngest international cricketer for 64 years when he takes the field against Australia.

Jamie Overton

JAMIE OVERTON, who turned 19 in April, will become England's youngest international cricketer for 64 years and their most youthful one-day player if, or rather when, he takes the field against Ireland or Australia in six ODIs this month. The first chance is in Dublin on Tuesday.

Overton is in the squad only two years after joining Somerset. His selection is further evidence of England's boldness in selection.

While the team director, Andy Flower, and the Test and 50-over captain, Alastair Cook, are often derided for their cautious on-field tactics, there is no doubting the youth policy adopted by the selectors (of whom Flower is one). Giving first Test caps to Simon Kerrigan and Chris Woakes in the Ashes finale at The Oval was a surprise insofar as it broke with England's trusted formula of going with the six best batsmen and four best bowlers, but it was true to their fondness for giving youth its head.

In the past 32 months, 12 of the 14 players who had not previously appeared in Tests, ODIs or international T20s were aged 25 or under on debut: Danny Briggs, Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes (all 20); Jonny Bairstow, Scott Borthwick, Joe Root, James Taylor and Woakes (all 21); Alex Hales and Stuart Meaker (both 22); Kerrigan (24) and Jade Dernbach (25).

The only exceptions were Boyd Rankin, aged 28, who had played for Ireland before switching camps; and Nick Compton, who was 29 on debut in India last winter. Compton's summary dropping after a brief run of low scores so Root could take his place as opener only reinforced the notion of a regime in thrall to youth.

Two more who may make their international bows alongside Overton this week are Gary Ballance, who is 23, and Sussex all-rounder Chris Jordan, 24, who has been snapped up from under the noses of West Indies, for whom he was also qualified.

England's willingness to develop talent increased once it formed a national academy in 2001, an England B team, or Lions side, a few years later and a well defined pathway from age-group sides right up to the Test XI. Much credit for co-ordinating this strategy is due to Hugh Morris, who is leaving the England and Wales Cricket Board after 16 years, the last six spent as managing director of England cricket.

In the main, the view now is that the best place to learn international cricket is in the international arena. Since being chosen for a Test in Bangladesh in 2010 at 20, Steven Finn, for example, has played in more first-class matches for England sides - Tests and tour games combined - than for Middlesex, even though his form has been variable. Now Overton has his chance. He has appeared for England Under-19s and, in the past week, the Lions against Bangladesh A, but he has otherwise had little contact with national coaches. He has played only 14 championship matches.

He possesses many of the attributes required of a good fast bowler. He stands 6ft 5in, is as strong as an ox and, in the words of one teammate, wants to "own" the pitch. He has been troubled by tendinitis in his right knee but the problem does not appear serious.

He gave the Australians a shake-up when playing for Somerset in June. "If you wanted to mould a fast bowler, he would be it," Marcus Trescothick, his county captain, has said. "He works really hard, trains brilliantly and has got that bit of something inside, that bit of animal you need."

Overton has the enthusiasm of youth, an enthusiasm England are keen to tap.