England have finally learnt how to twin with Jamie Overton making his Test debut at Headingley this week in place of James Anderson.
Overton has leapfrogged his twin brother Craig, who has played eight Tests already and is three minutes older, into the side after earning his first call up to the squad this week. And together they have become the first set of twin brothers to play Test cricket for England, following the example of the Waugh twins for Australia and the Marshall twins for New Zealand.
Jamie is the fastest bowler England will have had on show this summer, regularly operating above 90 mph, and he comes into the team on the back of a strong performance for Surrey against a Somerset side that included his brother. And he gets his chance thanks to an ankle injury to Anderson that he has not managed to shake off in the aftermath of the Trent Bridge victory.
Stokes described his 39-year-old bowler as having a 'puffy ankle' which has not quite settled down so Anderson's target will now be the solitary Test against India at Edgbaston that follows this third Test a week on Friday.
“Unfortunately Jimmy's not pulled up as well as we would have liked him to," said Stokes. "So Jamie Overton's going to make his debut this week. It's unfortunate for Jimmy but we've got a massive Test against India coming up as well. I'm not too sure how serious it is to be honest. He's just got a bit of a puffy ankle.
“Jamie's been very impressive, the way that he's bowled, we always want a point of difference in our side, bowling with serious pace and changing games as well. He fills a different role from Jimmy, but to have someone in your back pocket who can bowl 90 miles an hour is big for us.
“That's the only change this week. As tempting as it was to get both twins out there playing for England, Jamie's the only change."
Stokes was under a bit of a fitness cloud himself after missing training on Tuesday, but two negative covid tests reassured him it was just a case of feeling under the weather and after taking a full part in training, is ready to lead the side once more.
And the captain wants to see more of the same entertainment value from his team after their thrilling win at Trent Bridge on a whirlwind final day.
Fittingly it is the first time Stokes is playing at Headingley since his 2019 Ashes heroics, and a repeat of that kind of entertainment would suit the Yorkshire crowd just fine.
“I've said to the players this week, let's try and think like we're in the entertainment business rather than the sporting business," added Stokes. There's a reason why 20,000 people came out to watch us at Trent bridge last week.
“So I set a challenge to the team to be even more fearless, positive and aggressive than last week. My message is clear and simple: 'let’s try to progress from that.' What we have managed to do over the past two weeks is pretty special. I feel like people want to come and watch the brand of cricket we’re playing. My challenge to the lads this week is to go and do it again."
