Sam Curran breaks silence on potentially replacing retired Ben Stokes in England’s Test team originally appeared on Cricket News.
Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
KEY TAKEAWAYS:
- Sam Curran says he would welcome a Test recall to replace the retired Ben Stokes.
- Curran, a seam-bowling all-rounder, last played a Test for England back in 2021.
- He insists he will not put pressure on himself amid the speculation over Stokes’ successor.
Sam Curran breaks silence on potentially replacing retired Ben Stokes in England’s Test team
Ben Stokes’ shock retirement has left England with a gaping hole to fill in their Test side, both in leadership and team balance. As the search for a solution begins ahead of the Pakistan series, one familiar name has emerged as a natural fit.
Sam Curran fits the bill as a like-for-like seam-bowling all-rounder, the very role Stokes occupied so influentially. The 28-year-old has not played a Test since 2021, featuring exclusively in white-ball cricket for England since, but now finds himself back in the conversation.
Speaking for the first time on the possibility of a red-ball return, Curran made his ambitions clear without piling expectation on his own shoulders. The Surrey man is keen to seize any opportunity, yet insists he is determined to stay relaxed about his future.
Curran welcomes an England Test recall
Asked directly if he would welcome the call, Curran did not hesitate. “Yeah, of course,” he told BBC Sport, before expanding on his mindset. “I just want to try to perform my best, and whenever the time comes, they decide whoever is going to replace Stokesy,” he added. His competitive instincts shone through as he continued.
“Playing for England is amazing, and I’m a competitive guy. When I’ve got a ball or bat in my hand, I just try to do my best, so we’ll see what happens,” Curran said of the prospect of a return. Crucially, Curran is refusing to burden himself with expectation. “There is a lot of noise on Stokesy retiring, but I don’t really want to put too much pressure on myself,” he explained, insisting his sole focus remained on contributing and winning matches for his country.
He was also realistic about the scrutiny facing Stokes’ successor. “With Ben Stokes retiring, there will be hype around it,” Curran acknowledged, adding that whoever comes in “will do their best,” while conceding the talismanic all-rounder “will be a big miss for England.”
The Cricket News Opinion: Curran a logical but risky pick
On paper, Curran represents the most logical like-for-like solution to England’s balance problem. A genuine all-rounder allows the side to field a five-man attack, including a spinner, and few English options offer his blend of new-ball skill and lower-order hitting.
There are, however, obvious risks in the move. Curran has not featured in the format for nearly five years, and expecting him to replicate Stokes’ talismanic influence would be deeply unfair. His measured, pressure-free approach may prove exactly the right mentality for such a daunting challenge.
To keep up to date with all the latest cricket news and share your opinion on the biggest topics, visit our Facebook, Instagram and X (Twitter) pages.
About the Author
