England's preparations for the T20 World Cup have been thrown into doubt after all-rounder Jamie Overton suffered a back injury. The 30-year-old, uncapped in T20 internationals, was reportedly being considered as a wildcard for the tournament in the Caribbean and the USA this June.
Scans on Overton's back injury, which ruled him out of Surrey's recent County Championship match against Kent, proved inconclusive. He has been told to rest for two weeks before further tests. Overton has a history of lower back stress fractures, which previously sidelined him.
England's selection panel, led by Rob Key, is due to name a preliminary 15-man squad next week, which will likely mirror the squad for the four-match T20 series against Pakistan at the end of May. The final squad must be submitted by 25 May.
Overton has impressed as a powerful lower-order batsman and a fast bowler. He played as a batter in last summer's T20 Blast while recovering from a stress fracture, then scored 202 runs at a strike rate of 181.98 for Manchester Originals in the Hundred, earning MVP honours. In the Big Bash League, he took 16 wickets for Adelaide Strikers, and in the ILT20, he hit an explosive 41 off 18 balls for Gulf Giants.
His only Test cap came in 2022 against New Zealand, where he scored 97 from No. 8. Other contenders for the World Cup include spinners Rehan Ahmed and Tom Hartley, while England hope Jofra Archer can prove fitness against Pakistan after a two-year injury layoff.
The Pakistan series is England's only cricket before the World Cup, but it overlaps with the Indian Premier League playoffs. England will decide whether to allow players like Phil Salt to complete their IPL commitments or return home.
