CRICKET Spotlight on T20 England v South Africa in Cardiff THE Jamie the Lionheart FAST SHOW
England rookie Curran says: You ain’t seen nothing yet!
TOM CURRAN jumped on to the international stage after ramping up his pace and he says there’s plenty more to come.
The 22- year- old quickie claimed three South African scalps on his debut at Taunton – the first with his second ball.
And now he’s warning that he will get faster still.
Curran’s eye-catching heroics were not quite enough to deny the visitors victory. So at 1-1 it’s all to play for in today’s T20 decider at Cardiff.
Figures of 3- 33 on Friday brought a ringing endorsement from England skipper Eoin Morgan that the Surrey rightarmer has shifted up a gear.
Stronger
Curran said: “My debut was special. I was delighted with the first wicket – I just went off on one in celebration.
“If you’d offered me those figures before the start, I’d have bitten your arm off.
“I’ve been quietly confident of where my game’s been.
“The last couple of summers I’ve had with Surrey I’ve bowled a lot of overs and I think that has limited my pace.
“But I worked hard in the gym over the winter and gathered a yard. You get stronger and you develop your action a little bit more.
“I’m young enough to hopefully put on a couple more yards.” South-African born Curran qualified for England two years ago and his younger brother Sam, 19, is another hot prospect.
He added: “Sam is away with the Lions at the moment. We’re taking small steps in what I guess we both hope will be long careers with England. But yes, that’s the dream – to play for England with my brother.”
Morgan said: “Tom bowled tough overs. Two of the first six and then two towards the end.
“He’s definitely put on a yard of pace and that makes his slower balls more effective. He was very clear in what he was doing, which helps.
“Tom was certainly very impressive on debut with a lot of nerves kicking around. He kept his head well and was very clinical. It would be nice to give him two games out of three.
“But we’ll have to have a look at the conditions in Cardiff before making a decision.”
England were odds- on to wrap up the mini series in the West Country before Jason Roy was given out obstructing the field – blocking a throw which might have run him out.
South Africa bowler Chris Morris said: “When we saw him looking at the ball it did look a bit suspicious, but I don’t think it will create any needle.
“We’ll be fighting as hard as we can. We need to show people back home we care about playing for our country.” JAMIE PORTER showed the form that has helped bowl Essex to the top of the County Championship with a six-wicket match haul as England Lions eased to an emphatic 257run victory over South Africa A at Canterbury. Paceman Porter (above) took 3-47 in South Africa’s second innings while Somerset’s Jamie Overton bagged 3-36 to take his match total to five wickets.
The tourists, resuming on a fragile 29-4 as they set off in pursuit of a nominal victory target of 412, could muster only 154.
It took 36 overs for Keaton Jennings’ side to finish off their opponents. Temba Bavuma and Heinrich Klaasen took the attack to England early on. But when Bavuma was trapped lbw by Sam Curran for 33, it ended any realistic hope of South Africa seeing out the day. Despite a couple of rain delays which meant an early lunch, the Lions pushed through the lower order as Porter bowled Willem Mulder for one and then removed Klaasen (43) two balls later. Beuran Hendricks added 12 before falling to Curran and Dane Piedt hit a defiant 31 before victory was sealed when Duanne Olivier fell leg-before to Dan Lawrence for eight.