‘It’s been difficult’: Sam Curran eager to offer England more at T20 World Cup | T20 World Cup 2024

Sam Curran will receive an MBE when he returns to the UK after the Men’s T20 World Cup, the all-rounder was recognized in the King’s Birthday Honors last year for his starring role in England securing the trophy at the end of 2022.

This time, however, Curran struggled to make the XI with his one-off appearance in the deciding 41st over win against Namibia on Saturday only after rain and the resulting 10-match run forced England to change their strategy. As a highly competitive player, of course he doesn’t like that.

“It was tough to be honest… very tough,” Curran said as England trained ahead of their first Super Eight match against the West Indies in St Lucia on Wednesday. “I feel England are a team I’ve done really well for… but it shows the strength of our squad at the moment.

“I know I will get that opportunity in the next – hopefully – six games. Maybe this will be the final of the world championship [on 29 June]. I will have two days of good training here and if I get into this XI I will try to stay in it.”

Curran was named player of the tournament in the previous men’s tournament T20 World Cup in Australia, with his knowledge of death something of a revelation. Armed with slower-ball bouncers, cutters and yorkers – all enhanced by that left-arm angle and sharp push at the crease – nine of his 13 wickets came in the last five overs. A total economy of 6.5 runs per over was like gold dust for Jos Buttler.

A difficult moment followed, however, during England’s 3-2 defeat by the West Indies in the Caribbean last winter, when Curran scored almost 12 runs per over overall and 18 at the death. Despite being an ever-present for the high-scoring Punjab Kings in the Indian Premier League this year, captaining and even batting in the middle order, he has slipped to the bench for this world tournament.

It could be that Australia’s wider square boundaries two years ago were the key to his success, or a case of opponents reading his options better. He is certainly one of the most familiar faces on the T20 circuit in recent times, playing 113 matches for six teams in the last two years, second to Australian globetrotter Tim David on 128.

Curran said: “I’ve played so much cricket in the last 12 months, sometimes when I’m on the sidelines it’s a good opportunity to freshen up and work on some technique. I tried not to fall too much. There’s nothing worse than being left behind and you’re not ready [to play again].

“I have to keep that mindset. It’s just great to be at the World Cup again, I have great memories so I’ll stay positive.”

While that comeback last weekend was script-specific, the 12 balls that Curran did send – costing just 13 runs and putting the brakes on Namibia’s chase – may yet warrant a rethink. Coming into the side for Will Jacks, the reshuffle pushed Jonny Bairstow and Harry Brook up a place each – a better fit for both, one suspects – and offered Buttler a fourth front-line option.

To the clean Darren Sammy Cricket A ground that boasts the most authentic pitch in the Caribbean, not to mention the eye-catching pattern of the outfield, it might be tempting to keep this structure or reinstate Jacks and appoint Curran instead of Liam Livingstone. The latter is struggling with a side strain – he left training early on Monday – although the bowling all-rounder could be game regardless.