Sam Curran embraces flexible role in England's T20I success
What's the story
Sam Curran, the star England all-rounder, has expressed his satisfaction with his flexible role in the team. His adaptability has been key to England's recent success in T20Is, which was recently marked by a 3-0 series win over hosts Sri Lanka. Curran smashed a 48-ball 58 as England managed to defend 128 in the third and final T20I. Despite different pitches and conditions, Curran's contributions have been instrumental ahead of the all-important ICC T20 World Cup.
Match impact
All-rounder's versatility shines in SL series
Curran's versatility was on full display in the recent series against Sri Lanka. He scored 58 off 48 balls in the third T20I, earning him the player-of-the-match award. In the second game, his unbeaten 20 helped England chase down the 168-run target with Tom Banton. Even in the first match of this series, the left-arm pacer made an impact by taking a hat-trick.
Role acceptance
Curran accepts his flexible role
Acknowledging his flexible role in the team after the match, Curran said, "I know my role with the ball is going to be quite flexible, and I'm pretty happy with that." He hopes to contribute with both bat and ball as per the team's needs. "Just hoping that when I don't bowl well, I can bat well, and when I don't bat well, I can bowl well. I guess that's my logic."
Player evolution
Curran confident heading into World Cup
In his maiden T20 World Cup appearance (2022), Curran mainly operated as a bowler. Now, he has the added responsibility of batting at No. 6. England won the title as Curran was the Player of the Tournament. He credits his growth to playing franchise cricket and says he's confident with his game. "I love my batting, I love my bowling," he said, adding that he hopes to perform for England throughout this World Cup.
Stats
A look at his T20I stats
With his second half-century in the format, Curran has raced to 529 runs from 67 T20I matches at an average of 19.59, as per ESPNcricinfo. He has a strike rate of over 130. The left-arm seamer earlier became the second Englishman to claim a T20I hat-trick, having joined veteran pacer Chris Jordan. Overall, Curran boasts 60 T20I wickets at an average of 27.21. This includes an economy of 8.64.