“You want to play against these big names and test yourself, find out where you need to improve” – Curran
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!England seam bowling all-rounder Sam Curran has been making the right noises in the month that’s gone by having landed debuts in both one-day and Test cricket, and is in line to make an appearance in the shortest format of the game too, against the visiting Indian team. Sam, who plays for Surrey, was supposed to team up with India captain Virat Kohli, who’d signed up to play for the club through the month of June, but for a neck injury. During the weeks of anticipation leading up to the arrival of the star batsman, Sam had a good laugh with all his mates from other clubs about the prospect of them facing up to the tough challenge of bowling at Kohli. In little over one month, Sam will be in their shoes.
“I was pretty excited when he was meant to be my team-mate at Surrey and I was expecting to be laughing at the other county bowlers. Bowling at Kohli is probably like what other teams think bowling at England at the moment. They are special, particularly on these wickets,” Curran said. “Now if I get the chance it’ll be my chance to get taken down! It’ll be fun.
Sam mentioned how he and all his teammates had been looking forward to have Kohli over but were left disappointed due to an untimely blow. “You want to play against these big names and test yourself, find out where you need to improve. All the Surrey boys were gutted he didn’t come because we were expecting some big crowds and learning the way he trains, apparently he’s a freak in the gym, so it would have been special to work with him.”
Sam, who started off as a batsman who could bowl a bit, has slowly transformed otherwise. Over the first three weeks of June, Sam first made his Test debut, picking two wickets before doing the same in his only ODI so far. It’s a period he looks at with immense excitement. “I grew up as a batter who bowls and, as I’ve got older, I’ve become a bowling all-rounder now. But I definitely I see myself at four, five or six, especially in one-day cricket. Maybe a bit like Stokesy does for England, I could see myself doing that at Surrey.
“It’s been a pretty special couple of weeks. Wouldn’t have thought it at the start of the summer, thought I’d just deal with my Surrey stuff but that’s how things go, you just get on a roll and ride the rollercoaster and just try to enjoy it. Watching Jimmy and Broad on the sofa and then next thing I know I’m stood at mid-on watching while they are steaming in. It’s pretty surreal. I won’t forget it.”
While Sam has earned a spot in the T20I squad, he’s not a part of the ODI squad, but is expected to join up with England Lions who are slated to play a four-day game against the tourists in July. He’s also in the running to be a part of the Test squad when Ben Stokes is busy appearing for his court trial during the Lord’s Test.
Shared News | Last updated on Mon, 02 Jul, 2018, 12:05 PM