Sam Curran has revealed that a frank conversation with England head coach Brendon McCullum and managing director Rob Key provided the clarity he needed to regain his place in the side. The all-rounder was told he needed to become a top-six batter to earn a recall, a challenge he relished after a period of uncertainty.
Curran, who has played only three of England's last 20 ODIs and was omitted from the T20 series in India and the home series against West Indies, spent time away from the international setup. He returned to Surrey, captained the side in the T20 Blast, and averaged 51.16 in six County Championship innings. He also developed a 'moon ball' – an ultra-slow delivery – to add variety to his game.
“I sat here now, and I’m probably thankful for kind of a reset,” Curran said in Christchurch. “The clarity of needing to get into the top six batters was great. It was nice that was my clear message, and I feel it was good for me to almost have a bit of time out, go back to where it all started.”
His efforts paid off with an unbeaten 49 in the rain-affected first T20 against New Zealand. England captain Harry Brook said: “He was given very honest reasons for why he wasn’t selected. He went back, practised hard, and he’s done really well. He’s going to be around for a while, I think.”
Curran is one of several players benefiting from England's year of second chances, alongside Tom Banton and Liam Dawson, who returned after three-year absences. The 27-year-old, who moved from Zimbabwe at 14, now aims to push the group forward ahead of the 2026 T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
