Not the best thing being a bowler: Jamie Overton

CHENNAI: The pressure on bowlers has intensified in this IPL and Chennai Super Kings’ pacer Jamie Overton is no stranger to the all-out attack of the GenZ batters across franchises.

“I think the way T20 cricket is going and the wickets that we’re playing on over here, it’s not the best thing being a fast bowler. You look at some of the scores going around, 240, 250 and that too in 12 overs...just like that. Your four overs are probably going to go for 35 to 40 in most games, if not more than that. It’s just trying to keep doing the right things for yourself and doing the basics really well,” said the CSK allrounder, who stood out with his matchwinning 4-18 against Delhi Capitals on Saturday.

Someone who prefers hitting the deck hard, the tall paceman said that he has pulled his lengths fuller to counter the modern trend of batters using pace and targeting square boundaries.

“I think that’s my natural sort of stuff to do is to try and hit the wicket hard. I think in the past I’ve been a little bit short at times. I’ve realised what I’ve done in India in the past...trying to bring the batters forward. The wickets are so good nowadays, people are using the pace and hitting behind square and stuff, so I’m trying to make the guys hit me down the ground a bit more. I’m just trying to stick with that process really,” said Overton.

Overton said assessing conditions as early as possible is key for bowlers to stay in the game, especially in the middle overs when controlling boundaries becomes crucial.

“I think we have a plan of trying to reduce the amount of boundaries in the middle. If you can go for a one-a-ball in the middle, that’s a good result. So it’s just trying to find a way of doing that and adapt to what the conditions are. So, it’s just trying to do the basics well and make it as hard for the batters,” he said.