Devon Cricket Board - Twins picked for England U19 World Cup squad

Twins picked for England U19 World Cup squad

THE Overton twins – Craig and Jamie – are both included in England’s squad for the U19 World Cup in Australia next month.
The squad was announced this lunchtime by the ECB and, unusually, the twins were listed as from Somerset and Devon.
The twins – Craig is the older by three minutes – started playing for Somerset last season on a non-contract basis and were offered terms this year after winning places in the extended England U19 squad.
That dual recognition by ECB was a real feather in the cap for the Devon youth set up, who nurtured the twins from the age of nine through to U19 level.
Jamie and Craig both graduated into the full county side and appeared together against Oxfordshire last season, sharing 10 wickets in the match.
Jamie was first into the England U19 set up, making his debut against South Africa last year. Craig was in the U17s last summer and made his England U19 bow during a tour to Bangladesh in January.
An injury sustained while practising meant Jamie had to miss the tour to Bangladesh. However, both twins were on the England U19 acclimatisation tour to Australia in April.
Craig made his First Class debut for Somerset against Lancashire on April 26. Jamie followed suit in May when he debuted against Surrey at the Kia Oval.
Martin Webb, chairman of the Devon Youth Association and long-serving coach across the age groups, said his first sight of the Overtons twins was when they played against Dorset U10s at Bournemouth Sports Club.
“Jamie was wicketkeeper in those days – and Craig a tearaway bowler who loved running in and bowling as fast as he could,” said Webb.
“The boys played all the way through the age groups up to U19 together, but Craig never got to play in the U21s as he was playing for the full Devon side on the same day.
“I am absolutely thrilled for the boys as they have worked so hard to get where they are now.
“All the coaches who have worked with them within Devon, and at their club side North Devon, can give themselves a pat on the back for helping the twins on their way.”
England will begin with a game against hosts Australia in Townsville on August 11 before playing Ireland and Nepal in the other group stage matches.
If England progress in the competition they could then go on to face one of twelve other countries in the latter stages competing in the U19 World Cup.
England Development Programme head selector David Graveney said: “The squad we have put together contains strength in depth and some exciting young talent which we look forward to seeing perform on the world stage in Australia.
“It was difficult to reduce the squad from our original 30 names to just 15, but we feel we have a good mix of batting and bowling with strong names in reserve in case of any injuries.”
EDP head coach Tim Boon said: “The squad contains a great blend of players with first-class experience and those with less experience. We’ve got some great games to look forward to against top class opposition at such a prestigious tournament. We’re looking to giving them an opportunity to impress at this level and hope will we compete strongly throughout the competition.”

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