Sam Curran on T20 role ahead of World Cup: ‘When I bowl poorly, I can bat’ | Cricket News

England all-rounder Sam Curran It once again underlined how comfortable he is in the national team without strict demands, a quality that will become increasingly important as England picks up pace ahead of the T20 World Cup. Curran’s flexibility was outstanding in England’s 3-0 T20I sweep against Sri Lanka, with Curran making notable contributions with both bat and ball in contrasting scenarios. Curran’s most outstanding moment came in the third and final T20I. He showed calmness and control under pressure and scored 58 off 48 balls to lead England to a score of 128 runs. That play set the tone for a successful defense and earned him the Man of the Match award. His impact on the entire series went far beyond that hit, though. Curran remained unbeaten on 20 runs in the second T20I to help England complete a nail-biting chase of 168 Tom Banton. Earlier, he announced his inclusion in the series by scoring a hat-trick in the first game.

As he reflected on his role after the series, Curran spoke openly about embracing uncertainty within the team’s structure. “I know my ball-handling role is going to be very versatile and I’m very happy with that,” he said. The 25-year-old stressed that his focus is to influence the game in any way required on the day. “Just hoping that when I don’t play well, I play well, and when I don’t play well, I play well. I guess that’s my logic.” Curran’s responsibilities have expanded significantly since his maiden T20 World Cup in 2022, when he was largely seen as a bowling option. This time, he took on a more prominent batting role, often appearing at No. 6. This transformation reflected his overall growth, which peaked in 2022 when England won the T20 World Cup and Curran was named the player of the tournament. He attributes much of this development to the exposure gained through franchise cricket, which he believes has improved both aspects of his game. “I love my batting, I love my bowling,” Curran said, reiterating his desire to continue performing for England on the biggest stage. From a statistical perspective, his latest half-century is only the second of his T20I career, in which he has scored 529 runs in 67 games at an average of 19.59 and a strike rate of over 130. With the ball, the left-arm seamer took 60 wickets at a strike rate of 27.21 and an economy rate of 8.64. He also recently became the second England player after Chris Jordan to take a T20I hat-trick. With the World Cup looming, England’s plans increasingly depend on adaptable players, and Curran’s willingness to adapt his role continues to make him a vital piece of the puzzle.