"We have not been good enough for long enough in this series and have let chances slip, and because of that we have lost the Ashes before Christmas," he said in The Times on Tuesday. "We are gutted but don't for a second think that there will be divisions in the camp or that we see the series as over. "We will be throwing everything we have at the Melbourne and Sydney Tests -- we are desperate to make a mark on the series, even if it's too late to win. "We will fight until the very last to do so."Craig Overton a major doubt for Melbourne Test after cracked rib forces him offhttps://t.co/unLc89Rs5A
— Telegraph Cricket (@telecricket) December 17, 2017
Whether or not Overton will be fit to play a part is another matter entirely after he suffered a hairline fracture of a rib while diving in the field at Perth. "I am nursing a hairline fracture to my rib but the doctor warned me it could become much worse if I landed the wrong way -- a proper fracture, or even a punctured lung. No one needs that," Overton said. "I've been brought up to fight through the pain, and I'm not the sort to leave the field for nothing." Somerset seamer Overton enjoyed a dream start to his test career when he picked up the wicket of Australian captain Steve Smith in the second test in Adelaide. With six wickets to his name in his two tests and an impressive 41 not out with the bat in Adelaide, Overton was one of the few England players to emerge with much credit.47 years of Australia v England Test cricket at the WACA ends like this #Ashes pic.twitter.com/0thGvudVzS
— Andrew Ramsey (@ARamseyCricket) December 18, 2017
He said he is desperate to play in the Melbourne test which begins on Dec. 26. "I won't rule myself out of Melbourne. I accept it's unlikely, but I'm so desperate to play that I won't accept I'm not going to until the doctors tell me absolutely otherwise. "I'll be weaning myself off the strong painkillers, just a few paracetamol to help me sleep. "And no golf! It'll be beach time for me."“Pathetic, woeful, sorry, miserable, worthless, spineless, toothless.”
— ESPNcricinfo (@ESPNcricinfo) December 18, 2017
England's #Ashes defence summed up in one tweet. pic.twitter.com/dlF3P3pYo2
What contributed to England's #Ashes downfall?
— BBC Sport (@BBCSport) December 18, 2017
No Stokes? No pace? Steve Smith and ruthless Aussie bowling?
We go over all the fine details here: https://t.co/H53tRJjy7f pic.twitter.com/U0mBoDmvYt