England all-rounder Jamie Overton has been sidelined for the remainder of the One-Day International (ODI) series and the upcoming Vitality T20 Internationals against the West Indies after suffering a fracture to his right little finger. The injury occurred during the opening ODI at Edgbaston on Thursday, as reported by ESPNcricinfo.
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The 31-year-old sustained the injury in unfortunate fashion—while attempting to take a sharp return catch off Keacy Carty on just his second delivery. The ball struck his finger, prompting him to leave the field immediately for medical attention.
Although Jacob Bethell stepped in to complete the over, Overton later returned to the field and went on to deliver a commendable bowling performance. He picked up three wickets, dismissing Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, and Gudakesh Motie, ending with impressive figures of 3 for 22 in 5.2 overs—his best in ODI cricket.
Despite his on-field heroics, the injury has ruled Overton out of action for the rest of the series. He will now begin a rehabilitation program under the care of the England medical team.
At this stage, no replacement has been named for Overton in the ODI squad. England still has backup pace options in Matthew Potts and Luke Wood, while Tom Hartley, a left-arm spinner, remains another potential inclusion.
The second ODI between England and the West Indies is scheduled for Sunday in Cardiff, followed by the final match of the series on Tuesday at The Kia Oval. The teams will then shift focus to the T20I series, which begins on Friday at Chester-le-Street.
