When Ben Stokes announced his retirement from Test cricket, the most obvious replacement as pace-bowling all-rounder seemed to be Sam Curran. But, in the squad announced for first two Tests against Pakistan on August 6, Curran’s name was missing. Former Australia cricketer and England men’s team selector Marcus North explained why Curran didn’t get a place in the squad despite bowling his full quota of overs often in the ODI series against India. North has revealed that Curran’s workload is being managed as he is returning to action after an injury. He has backed him to return for the third Test of the series against Pakistan.
"Sam has had a really heavy workload this summer playing a tremendous amount of cricket, and during that time he's been doing so with a couple of niggles, which you expect most bowlers do. But at this stage with a couple of niggles - we've seen he's missed a game in the Hundred - we don't feel physically, he's just quite right there.
"I think [it would be] unfair to put him into these first two Tests. He's someone our backroom staff and medical team will be working with in the coming weeks to make sure that he potentially becomes an option in the third Test.”
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Curran hasn’t played a Test since 2021. He did not get a place in the Test squad in the Bazball era. With Stokes and Brendon McCullum’s partnership coming to an end, the 28-year-old pace bowling all-rounder may be looked at as a regular especially with new head coach Stephen Fleming and skipper Joe Root taking over. Curran is currently playing in The Hundred for MI London. If he isn’t considered ready for the third Test against Pakistan, his next opportunity for Test comeback will be on South Africa tour.
Curran’s Test numbers
Curran's previous Test appearance was against India at Headingley, Leeds, where he bagged two wickets and scored 15 runs. So far, he has played 24 Tests and scored 815 runs at an average of 24.69, including three fifties. The left-arm pacer has claimed 47 wickets at an average of 35.51. He is yet to take a fifer in Test cricket.
England’s Test squad for first two Tests vs Pakistan -
Joe Root (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Jordan Cox, Ben Duckett, Matthew Fisher, Emilio Gay, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Jamie Smith, Josh Tongue.
Dropped players return
Former vice-captain Pope and Lawrence have returned to the squad. In the absence of an injured Jacob Bethell, Jordan Cox has been given the opportunity to bat at no.3 against the Babar Azam-led side. For the Test series against Pakistan, Marcus Trescothick will be the interim head coach.