England’s Tom Curran, who made his Test debut in 2017 and has been a red-ball regular for Surrey, has decided to take an indefinite break from the longer format of the game, the club announced via a statement on Wednesday (February 1). Surrey announced that Curran had decided to step away from red-ball cricket — at least for the time being — to ‘streamline his schedule’ and keep himself fresh — physically and mentally — for white-ball cricket. 

The 27-year-old seamer is currently representing Desert Vipers in the inaugural edition of the ILT20 and is scheduled to link-up with Islamabad United for the eighth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) starting next month.

“Curran, 27, has suffered with multiple injuries in recent years and will look to streamline his schedule as he attempts to keep his body strong for the rigours of white ball cricket,” Surrey announced in an official statement.

“The imposing demands of such a full schedule has led Tom to decide to take a temporary step back from the longer format of the game to ensure his body and mind have adequate time to recover between white ball competitions.

“The all-rounder hasn’t ruled out a return to red ball cricket in due course but has simply decided that it is not part of his thinking right now.”

Curran, who played two championship games for Surrey in the 2022 season, however, clarified that he definitely does not rule out a return to red-ball cricket again.

“The last couple of years have not been easy for me. I have had a lot of time and this isn’t a decision that I’ve taken lightly,” Curran said.

“Some choices in life I don’t think you will ever be 100% sure and this is definitely one of those. But where I find myself at this exact moment, I feel like it is the right decision for my body and for my mental health.

“I’m definitely not ruling out playing red ball cricket again in the future, and I feel like I have unfinished business in this format for both Surrey and England. But until I can feel 100% committed and confident in my body to be performing day in and day out for Surrey in the County Championship, I feel that putting all my time and focus into on our Vitality Blast campaign this year is the right thing to do.”

Though Curran went wicketless in his two appearances in the 2022 season, he shone with the bat in hand, averaging 42.00. Against Northants, he struck his maiden ton in first-class cricket.