Want to play all formats for England if I can: Curran

Ahead of IPL 2020, Sam Curran was picked by the Chennai Super Kings at a steal, and from thereon, the all-rounder has become one of the hottest properties in the tournament. While he missed the 2022 edition due to injury, he is expected to be one of the top prospects for the 2023 IPL Auction. 

He was also in line to represent the Three Lions in the 2021 T20 World Cup in the Middle East. However, a lower-back stress fracture ruled him out of action for a major part of the year. Now, he is back into the mix and is in line to play for England in the upcoming T20 World Cup Down Under. 

"I missed the last one. I need to get through this series and then hopefully, when I'm in Australia, I can be excited about it. The biggest thing this summer was getting my body through it… the priority now is the World Cup,” Curran said, ahead of the series against Pakistan. 

"I didn't bowl much for Surrey at all. The most I bowled in a game was 20 overs [24] and it felt like the sensible option. The Test team were flying at the time so my focus was purely on the World Cup and trying to have a good Hundred, to keep performing and to get my body right."

Unlike others in the English team, Curran insists that he would much rather play all formats of the game if he can, instead of opting for a break, considering that he has come off a six-month lay-off after injury.

"You've seen guys who are choosing to rest in certain periods because there is quite a lot of cricket. For me right now, coming off a six-month lay-off with injury, I want to play all formats if I can." 

"I'm trying to be as adaptable as possible. I'm sure there's going to be a lot of rotation: guys coming back from injury, newer guys coming in. My role might vary as guys come back or guys come in. The role I'm given is just to contribute with the ball when I bowl and when I'm batting.”

Curran hopes to be a floater

During his stint with Chennai Super Kings (CSK), the all-rounder was switched multiple times in the batting order, including opening the innings. The all-rounder insisted that his role for the Three Lions could be similar, being a floater to take on different kinds of bowlers. 

"That may be lower down the order here but I guess it's about adapting to conditions. I don't think about it too much at Surrey or in the Hundred because I had pretty set roles but with England, naturally I do because we've got so many allrounders who can be adaptable.

"I might get sent up as a floater to take on different types of bowlers. Whenever I do play for England, I play with an open mind. You don't just want to be a cricketer whose set for one role which I think is one of my strengths: to be as adaptable [as possible] for the captain and for guys in the team."

Ironically, Curran made his international debut against Pakistan, and with the seven-match series against the Asian side, it provides him with an opportunity to claim a place for himself in the England playing XI. 

"This is a great chance for myself and most of our players - even guys that aren't in the World Cup squad - to stake a claim, keep knocking down the door; but also just to be here, be involved with a pretty historic trip to Pakistan and take it all in."