- South Dartmoor back to winning ways in cups
- Tom Allin tournament raised more than £5,000 for air ambulance
- Taverners kit bag delivered to Sri Lankan youngsters
- Devon trying to contact the class of 56
- Paceman Tshepo running in Virgin London Marathon
- Five Devon women in Western Storm squad for Kia Super League
- Registration night for all ages at Topsham on Monday
- Lots pouring in for auction at Allin Memorial tournament
- Thames Valley Gentlemen Cricket Club
- Bradninch add Argentinian flavour to Devon League
- Ipplepen youth registration night on Friday
- Final call for Groundsmans first seminar this year
- Devon League official tackling London Marathon for charity
- Bovey on familiar territory in Aaron Printers Cup
- Brockman Cup - Cup Kings lie in wait for holders
- Shepherd Trust helps Kingsbridge build for sustainable future
- DCL - Umpire Appointments 2016 (May 7th - July 2nd)
- Long standing records beaten
- North Devon see off Paignton chase
NORTH Devon twins Craig and Jamie Overton have accepted two-and-a-half year contracts with Somerset after ‘graduating’ from the academy system at Taunton, writes Conrad Sutcliffe.
The twins – Craig is three minutes older than Jamie – won academy places in 2010 having impressed Somerset at England U17 level and through the age groups with Devon.
Devon first picked the Overtons in their U10 side and the county youth set-up groomed them through the age groups.
Craig Overton (pictured, right) made his Minor Counties debut for Devon in 2010 when he was picked to play against Wales. At 16 years and 71 days old he was the third youngest player to represent Devon since the last war.
Devon had selected plenty of brothers in the past – the Shepherds and the Poynders from North Devon are both examples – but never two twins, until Jamie made his debut against Oxfordshire last season.
Both twins have played for England U19s and were due to tour Bangladesh in January and February month. A training ground injury prevented Jamie from going, but Craig went and appeared in six one-day internationals.
The Overtons were jointly named as the Francis Clark Devon League young players of the season for 2011. Craig was in Bangladesh at the time so Jamie (below) collected the award for both of them.
The twins are seen as hot property in cricketing circles, which is probably why Somerset have contracted both of them, even though neither has played in a First Class fixture yet.
The odds on either Overton appearing in the County Championship this season seem slender as their international commitments are going to take precedence.
“They are off to Australia for three weeks at the end of this month to play in a quadrangular series with England U19s,” said Mark Overton, the twin’s father.
“In May and June the boys are due to play for England U19s in the northern section of the Second Eleven T20 competition, so won’t be available for Somerset.
“Then in August – if selected of course – they will be on the plane back to South Africa again for the U19 World Cup.
“It is a busy schedule, but is what the boys have wanted ever since they were toddlers.
“They first went to North Devon CC when they were no more than two and pretty soon were pestering adults to throw balls at them.
“All they have ever wanted is to play cricket for a living and this is another step along that road.”
The twins have been at West Buckland College near Barnstaple since the age of 11.
Both were enthusiastic rugby players until the age of 15, when a choice had to be made which sport to concentrate on.
They played rugby for Barnstaple and were members of the same youth side as rising star Lindford Brock, who is in the England U18 squad this season and set to make his international debut against Wales later this month.
