England all-rounder Sam Curran recently expressed his disappointment at not being considered as a replacement for Ben Stokes in the Test squad following Stokes’ injury. Stokes has been sidelined for an extended period due to a hamstring injury sustained while playing for the Northern Superchargers in The Hundred. Curran saw this as an opportunity to re-enter the England Test side, hoping to fill the vacant spot.
Stokes’ injury caused him to miss England’s summer fixtures, including the Test series against Sri Lanka. He also chose to skip the first Test against Pakistan in Multan, a match Curran believed could have marked his return to Test cricket. Curran last played a Test for England in August 2021 during the series against India and has since struggled to regain his place in the squad.
“I’ll be honest, when Stokesy got injured, I thought it could be my chance to get back into the Test team,” Curran told talkSPORT. He mentioned having a discussion with Rob Key, England’s director of cricket, to understand the current team dynamics and his path back into the squad.
Curran, who made his Test debut at a young age, reflected on his past experience, saying, “I know what it takes to win a Test match—the grind, grit, and attitude required. So, yes, I was a little gutted. Selection is what it is, but I thought this was my opportunity.”
Despite being out of the Test side for over two years, Curran remains determined to meet the selection criteria and prove his worth. He acknowledged the changing nature of team selection, noting that it’s not always about ability, but rather fitting into the team’s current needs.
As England continues their three-match Test series against Pakistan, Curran is focused on future opportunities. In the meantime, he is shifting his attention to white-ball cricket, where he is expected to play a significant role in the upcoming T20I and ODI series against the West Indies.
At 25, Curran remains determined to make his mark across all formats, with Test cricket still a key goal in his international career.
