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England all-rounder Sam Curran has openly expressed his frustration at being overlooked for the Test side despite Ben Stokes’ injury during the home season. Stokes, who serves as England’s Test captain, suffered a hamstring injury during the 2024 edition of The Hundred. Curran, who had initially hoped this would pave the way for his return to the Test fold, was left disappointed as the team management opted for different options.
Curran’s Ongoing Battle for Test Selection
Sam Curran, who made his Test debut in 2018 and quickly became a key player for England, has been absent from the red-ball format since 2021. He was instrumental during his first few years, especially with his performances against India in 2018, which showcased his all-round abilities. However, he has struggled to find a spot in the Test team since the rise of England’s “Bazball” approach.
Curran played a limited role for Surrey during the 2024 County Championship, taking six wickets with an impressive economy rate of 2.23. Despite his solid domestic performance, England chose not to include him in their Test series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, even after Stokes’ injury. Instead, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) favored an extra bowler, with Chris Woakes and Jamie Smith filling the batting roles at No. 6 and 7.
Speaking to TalkSPORT via ESPNcricinfo, Curran said, “The way the teams are being set up now, guys are getting picked for certain skills and a bit out of the unknown. As a county player, it’s interesting because you’ve got to hope that you fit that mould… And if you don’t, you’ve just got to crack on and win games for your franchise and counties, and just hope that that call comes.”
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England’s Bowling Structure and Future Prospects
With the retirements of James Anderson and Stuart Broad creating potential vacancies in the bowling department, Curran was optimistic about his return, especially as a left-arm seamer. However, the selectors have shown a preference for height and pace, opting for newcomer Josh Hull due to his unique physical attributes.
Curran candidly admitted, “I’ll be totally honest, when Stokesy got injured, I did probably think that was my way back into the Test team.” Despite his disappointment, Curran remains hopeful after a recent meeting with Rob Key, England’s Director of Cricket, where he discussed his future prospects with the national team.
Curran’s White-Ball Form
In addition to his Test frustrations, Curran’s form in white-ball cricket has also seen a decline. After playing a pivotal role in England’s T20 setup, his performances during the 2024 T20 World Cup and the recent series against Australia were underwhelming. While his domestic T20 form has improved — including a maiden T20 century in the T20 Blast for Surrey — Curran’s place in the national white-ball side is no longer guaranteed.
Curran was not included in England’s squad for the upcoming five-match ODI series against Australia, which is seen as a key series ahead of the 2025 Champions Trophy. Nevertheless, he remains part of the white-ball setup for the West Indies tour, offering him another opportunity to impress selectors and push for inclusion in major tournaments.
Reflecting on the current selection trends, Curran said, “They’ve got their own structure at the minute, and they’re picking the guys that fit that environment… I’m someone who likes to prove a point, so fingers crossed the next couple of months go well.”
As England prepares for future campaigns, including the Ashes and Champions Trophy, Sam Curran’s form in county and franchise cricket could determine whether he makes a long-awaited return to England’s Test side.
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