Curran has lift-off as he proves his head for heights
IT IS clearly the fashionable celebration for the young fast bowlers.
First Mohammad Amir gave us the outstretched arms, aeroplane style, as he demolished India’s top order in the Champions Trophy final.
Now comes Tom Curran with a similar passionate, animated reaction to a brilliant England debut.
England’s implosion in the second Twenty20 international against South Africa and the rarity of Jason Roy’s dismissal for obstruction may have taken attention away from Curran.
But from the moment he struck with his second ball in international cricket, to his third and best wicket when bowling Andile Phehlukwayo with a yorker, the elder Curran brother looked at home at the highest level.
Surrey’s sons of the late Zimbabwe international Kevin have long been considered to have rich potential but before now it was younger brother Sam who was thought by many to be the better prospect.
And Tom looked to be getting ready to welcome his sibling to the senior stage when he emerged at Taunton with a shirt that had ‘T Curran’ on the back rather than just his surname.
The mundane explanation for that was that the template for both T and S Curran shirts was already in place through the Lions, but there is little doubt left-armer Sam has every chance of joining his brother soon.
For now Tom looks certain to retain his place for what has become a deciding Twenty20 international at the scene of the ‘crime’ — Cardiff — after England blew their chance to finally win a 50-over global title.
That Champions Trophy semi-final defeat by Pakistan is still raw for England but at least they have the chance today to add the Twenty20 series to their one-day triumph over South Africa ahead of the four-Test series that begins on July 6.
Curran could easily, in the absence of Chris Woakes and possibly Stuart Broad, become a candidate for the first Test at Lord’s if he can again bowl with the speed and hostility he showed on a superb, true, pacey pitch at Taunton.
‘Of course I want to play in the longer game,’ said Curran, who peaked at the late 80s in miles per hour in Somerset. ‘I’m a three-format player for Surrey. The last couple of seasons I’ve bowled a lot of overs and that may have limited my pace but I think I’ve gained a yard. I’m getting stronger, I know my action and I’m developing. Hopefully I can gain another couple of yards.’
He admitted: ‘The ultimate would be to play for England with Sam. We’ve dreamt of playing together but these are small steps. For now I’m delighted with my start.’
While Curran thrived, England’s other debutant on Friday, Liam Livingstone, dropped a catch and was beaten at his own combative game by South Africa’s Chris Morris.
This Twenty20 series is being used by England to ‘find out’ about the their promising players and clearly Livingstone has some way to go.
He will almost certainly stand down today, with England sticking with their intention to give everyone in their squad at least one game by handing out more debuts, this time to Dawid Malan and Craig Overton.
One who looks sure to retain his place is Liam Plunkett, said to be unhappy about being overlooked by Yorkshire for their pink-ball championship game against Surrey next week.
Plunkett is in the form of his life but has effectively been ruled out of the first Test by his county’s decision to leave him and David Willey out.
With spice added by the dismissal of Roy in Taunton, Plunkett’s desire to prove his county wrong could provide another intriguing sub-plot.