Jamie Overton open to Test return for Ashes if Joe Root asks

Jamie Overton says he would have to seriously consider a return to Test cricket for the 2026-27 Ashes if England captain Joe Root approaches him. The Ashes is the Test series between England and Australia, and Tests are the five-day matches played in traditional whites with a red ball.

Overton, 32, is a seam bowler and batter who has played two Tests for England. He was in the side for the fifth Test against India in July 2025, which was his second cap, but he was then left out of the 2025-26 Ashes tour. Jamie Overton's statement at the time explained that he had decided to take an indefinite break from red-ball cricket, the longer format. He said he could not commit to all formats "mentally and physically" at that stage of his career.

Now the door is open again, at least in conversation. Overton said England's white-ball captain, Harry Brook, had already raised with him the possibility of making himself available for Tests. White-ball cricket is the limited-overs form, played with a white ball, and Brook leads England in that game. Root is England's Test captain under the new leadership set-up.

Overton's twin brother Craig has played eight Tests. Craig has said he has not been contacted by England about a possible recall, so there is no sign yet that the wider plan has moved beyond talk.

Jamie Overton also has a history of stress fractures in his back, which is a serious factor for any fast bowler. He is currently part of England's squad for a one-day tri-series in Pakistan, a limited-overs event involving three teams.

The timing matters for England. Ben Stokes has retired from Test cricket, and since then England have fielded four frontline seamers, the main fast-bowling options, with Dan Lawrence batting at number six. That leaves the Test side looking for bowling depth and batting options, and Overton's name keeps coming up in that search.

For Overton, any Test return depends on Root making the approach. Overton has said he would take it seriously, but he has not said that Root has made contact. Until that happens, the Ashes call is a conversation, not a selection.