Tom Curran is a South African bowling all-rounder who plays for England in international cricket. He was born in Cape Town on March 12, 1995. He is a right-handed batsman and a right-arm medium-fast bowler.
Former Surrey coach Chris Adams compared Tom to the ferocious and formidable Dale Steyn when he first played for his county in an ODI against Essex in 2013. Curran quickly rose through the ranks and made his ODI and T20 debuts, impressing the cricketing world with his bravery and work ethic.
Career
Domestic Career
Tom Curran represented KwaZulu Natal-Inland in the Three-Day Challenge competition at the U-15, U-17, and U-19 levels. In 2013, he joined the Surrey County Cricket Club after relocating to England. In August 2013, he made his senior Surrey debut against Essex in a List A match, and in April 2014, he made his First Class debut against Cambridge University. Tom took 76 wickets for Surrey the following season, with his emerging bowling bursting with raw energy, the most noteworthy of which were twin seven-wicket hauls against Gloucestershire and Northamptonshire, both of whom his father Kevin Curran had previously represented.
His exploits for Surrey impressed the England cricket team’s national selectors. He was chosen for the England Performance Programme in 2015 after playing exceptionally well for two years. From October 2015, he was qualified to play for England.
IPL career
Kolkata Knight Riders have named Tom Curran as Mitchell Starc’s replacement for the 2018 Indian Premier League season. In the season, he took 6 wickets in 5 matches for an average of 19.67, but due to injury, he was unable to participate in the following one.
Rajasthan Royals purchased the England all-rounder for INR 1 crore during the IPL Players Auction for the 2020 season after a year on the sidelines. The 25-year-old could have a breakout IPL season if he can get a long rope in Dubai’s hot and humid weather, which he can use to his advantage with his ‘hit-the-deck’ bowling.
International Career
On September 29, 2017, Tom Curran made his One-Day International debut against the West Indies at The Rose Bowl in Southampton. With a half-century from Shai Hope, the Windies posted a limit of 288/6. Tom came up with the numbers 10-1-62-1. Jason Roy (96), Jonny Bairstow (141), and Joe Root (46) were more than enough for England, who chased down the target in just 38 overs and won by 9 wickets.
His strong and courageous exploits in one-day internationals secured him a call-up to England’s squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup, which will take place in April. Curran, however, was never given the opportunity to wear the three-lions jersey due to captain Eoin Morgan’s stacked bowling squad. He was one of two stars, along with Liam Dawson, who were left out of England’s World Cup victory.
He was given an England call-up for the Twenty20 series against South Africa in 2017. He was a top-class player with solid batting. Curran had a good first outing and delighted by his deception. On June 23, 2017, he played his first T20I against South Africa at The Cooper Associates County Ground in Taunton. In their 20 overs, the visitors scored 174/8. Tom bowled 3/33 in his quota of 4 overs and pleased with his numbers. England got off to a good start in the chase but fell short in the end, losing the match by three runs. Curran has played 21 T20Is and taken 23 wickets at an average of 26.73 in his brief career.
In 2017, Tom Curran made his Test debut during the Boxing Day Test. On a no-ball, he famously dismissed Australian opener David Warner for 99 runs. Warner was then dismissed on 103. As skipper Steve Smith chopped one into the stumps, Curran took his first Test wicket. Curran came in hard and bowled long bursts, but he, like his fellow pace bowlers, struggled against a strong Australian batting line-up. He’s just two Test matches old and has a lot to practise in the sport’s most difficult style.
Family
Tom Curran was born on March 12, 1995, in Zimbabwe, to Kevin Curran, a former cricketer. Tom Curran is the younger brother of English all-rounder Sam Curran, who has also played for England in all formats. Tom Curran is a member of the South African, Zimbabwean, and English national teams.