The Ashes 2017-18: It says a lot about England’s batting that the bloke who top-scored made 0, 0 and 0 in his only previous first-class innings on this tour
Overton has done well on Test debut with three wickets in the first innings, but his batting has put team-mates to shame
IT says a lot about England's batting that the bloke who top-scored made 0, 0 and 0 in his only previous first-class innings on tour.
Craig Overton has done well on his Test debut - he took three wickets in Australia's first innings including Steve Smith - but his performance with the bat put some of his team-mates to shame.
The 6ft 5ins Somerset all-rounder scored 41 not out and took part in the only half-century stand of England's first innings with Chris Woakes.
He showed decent ability and technique as well as plenty of courage when he was peppered with short balls.
Towards the end of his innings, the Aussie bowlers had almost given up banging in the ball short and were trying to get him out in orthodox fashion by pitching it up.
When you look at the shots offered by some of his high-order colleagues - James Vince and Joe Root are prime culprits - it makes England's dismal slide to 227 all out even more unacceptable.
When Woakes and Overton were batting in the second session, the pitch looked flat and the Aussie bowlers were starting to run out of ideas and inspiration.
It just shows what might have happened if the main England batsmen had applied themselves.
ASHES TO ASHES? England suffer horrific day three being skittled for just 227, but launch incredible late comeback under lights
There can be no excuse - there is no doubt that England had the best batting conditions of the match on day three.
But, in the face of magnificent quick bowling from Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins as well as Nathan Lyon's pinpoint off-spin, England succumbed. And it was entirely predictable.
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England's top-order must find a way of making centuries. Not thirties or fifties, but scores of three figures.
Their shot selection must be better and so must their execution.
And Root, despite all the distractions and responsibilities of captaincy, has to show the way.
Flashing hard at drive balls when the pink ball is moving around is not the way to go.
The wickets taken by James Anderson and Woakes with the ball swinging under lights in the final session did not excuse the batting.
Instead, it made England realise what might have been if they bowled better at the start of the game after Root won the toss.
