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England vs Sri Lanka: Sam Curran on learning from James Anderson, his future plans and touring at 20

Curran played key cameos with bat and ball in Galle but isn't a lock to play in the second Test

Ed Malyon
Pallekele
Sunday 11 November 2018 19:11 GMT
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England v Sri Lanka: Ed Malyon previews the second test match

On the eve of the first Test match in England’s tour of Sri Lanka, James Anderson reflected on a young-looking squad around him as he realised that he was now the senior figure having burst onto the scene as a brash youngster with a dyed mohawk.

Alastair Cook’s retirement has left the 36-year-old seamer as England’s grizzled veteran in a team that is seemingly getting younger with every passing series, and especially so with the inclusion of Ollie Pope and Sam Curran, both 20, in the squad to tour Sri Lanka.

Anderson made his international debut at the same age, so knows how that feels. But so much time has now passed that this tour is the first time that Anderson has been away with England alongside players who are legitimately young enough to be his children.

And while Pope is set to leave the senior squad in search of some time in the middle with England Lions in the UAE, Curran is now partnering Anderson as a frontline seamer, something the Surrey all-rounder admits is a bit of a dream having grown up watching the Burnley Express on television.

James Anderson made his England debut in 2003, when Sam Curran was five

“It’s been very surreal these past few months playing with these guys,” Curran said of sharing a dressing room with Anderson and fellow vet Stuart Broad, another player he grew up admiring and one who he beat out for selection at Galle.

“I’m so used to being on the sofa at home and watching them operate on the big screen and learning so much from them.

“They are two very down to earth guys so it is very easy to talk to them. You see them around the hotel, probably learn more away from the ground, going for dinner with them, playing FIFA, chatting cricket.

“It sounds stupid but you probably chat cricket more when you are away from the game than when are at the stadium.

“Even though Broady didn’t play, he was always coming out and giving me a few tips. And Jimmy has played so much in the subcontinent, it is great to have these guys helping me especially with my bowling in terms of what areas to bowl, reverse swing, all these type of things.

“I’m trying to learn day by day and thankfully it is going okay.”

Curran is generally considered a bowling all-rounder since bursting onto the international scene earlier this year but he revealed that, going forward, he’d prefer to be known as a “batter who bowls” and he did those chances no harm with a crucial 48 that featured three maximums in the first innings at Galle.

His efforts that afternoon were key in England recovering from 103/5 when Ben Foakes came in and then 164/6 when Curran strolled to the crease to eventually post 342 - the highest innings total of the match. The 20-year-old seamer played his shots while Foakes built the steady debut century that swung the match back in England’s favour, earning Curran’s county teammate the Man of the Match award and the all-rounder yet more respect from the coaching staff.

Curran helped county teammate Foakes to a ton debut with England

While it was his batting that likely got him the nod over Broad’s 433 Test wickets when it came to selection in Galle, the young all-rounder appreciates that he is principally in this team for his fast bowling. Curiously, though, his role has completely switched from the summer when he burst into the team with a knack for shaping the ball and finding deceptive late swing to take key wickets. Now he and Anderson are expected to probe briefly at the start of the innings and then revert to some almost defensive responsibilities as they grapple with wildly different conditions and a different weapon in their hand.

“Obviously, my role is probably to take the new ball with Jimmy and I’m really enjoying that.

“The Kookaburra doesn’t swing as much as the Dukes back home so it has all been a huge learning curve even though I only bowled 11 or 12 overs.

“We’ve spoken about it as a team - the seamers are going to have to do what the spinners do back home and hold up an end. Try to bowl as many dot balls as possible and keep the stumps and pads in play.”

Stuard Broad was dropped to allow an extra spinner in Galle

Curran has been working on a few different strategies to keep batsmen honest with reduced swing, he says he is toying with new delivery angles as well as working on cutters, variations and bowling around the wicket to change the point of attack.

In spite of all that, though, England’s young tyro isn’t guaranteed a spot in the team for the second Test at Pallekele that begins this week.

With Broad understood to be in contention to play on a pitch that should offer more for the quicks than Galle did, and England overflowing with batting options now that Jonny Bairstow is returning to fitness and debut centurion Foakes rendered himself undroppable, there is a line of thinking that Curran’s place might be under threat if the tourists decide they need Broad’s nous and experience.

England's Surrey trio - Foakes, Burns and Curran - all contributed on day two

“I don’t know if it is me who is keeping him out,” Curran said of Broad, “but conditions are very different.

“I didn’t bowl much in the last game so maybe I was in for my batting, I don’t know.

“If you get in the XI, you must do the best you can because the squad is very strong.

“Someone is going to be disappointed on Wednesday morning. But that’s a great place to be in.

“Rooty has spoken a lot to us about coming here as a full squad. It is about the whole group, not just the playing XI. The group is so close and the one-day team showed it as well - there is some great momentum and great vibes in the dressing-room.”

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