It is thought the injury was originally sustained when he was struck on the ribs while batting against Pat Cummins during the second Test at Adelaide.

A decision on Overton’s involvement in the rest of the series will be made at the end of the game, but after bowling in the nets before play declared himself fit to bowl, and continued to do so despite signs of discomfort.

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If he is ruled out of the rest of the series, England’s reserve fast bowlers are Jake Ball, who played the first Test at the Gabba, and Tom Curran, yet to make his Test debut. But perhaps favourite to replace him will be Mark Wood, who, while not officially part of the squad, remained with the English touring group following a Lions tour in which he showed signs of recovering well from a recurrence of a heel injury, bowling with good pace for the Lions and for an England XI.