Has a single training session ever revealed so much about the state of English cricket? England's preparation for
Tuesday's ODI against South Africa started at 9am in Leeds with one-third of their squad still in London after
playing in the Hundred final. Then, two hours later, one of the few players present told the world he was
quitting red-ball cricket indefinitely.
Harry Brook said he was "a little bit shocked" to learn of
Jamie Overton's decision, barely two months before an Ashes series for which he would very likely have been picked. But a glance around Headingley would have confirmed that things are not what they used to be: cricket's scheduling has never been perfect, but gaps between series have never been shorter.
Brook's own schedule has been packed enough. Since the start of England's home summer on May 22, he has played six Tests, six white-ball internationals and nine Hundred games: the tournament itself began just 24 hours after Brook's involvement in the
epic fifth Test against India. His post-match media commitments finished late on Saturday night at The Oval after
a washed-out Eliminator; his pre-match press conference for an ODI series barely 36 hours later.
