"Pretty cool" - Sam Curran on brother Ben potentially opening the batting for Zimbabwe in ENG vs ZIM one-off Test 2025
England all-rounder Sam Curran hopes to see his brother Ben play for Zimbabwe, claiming that it will be 'cool' to go toe-to-toe with him at the international level. With their late father Kevin featuring for Zimbabwe during his playing days, the southpaw reckons it will be special, given their family history.
Kevin played 11 ODIs for Zimbabwe between 1983 and 1987. He was part of Zimbabwe's squad at the 1983 World Cup in England when they secured a famous victory over Australia at Trent Bridge. He had scored 27 runs and dismissed Allan Border.
With England and Zimbabwe set to play a one-off four-day Test next year in Nottingham, Sam Curran said it would be 'cool' to see Ben walking out to open the innings for the tourists. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, the 26-year-old said, as quoted by The Telegraph:
"I’d love to. It will be pretty weird, and I guess my mum will be pretty nervous if it does happen. It will be special with my dad and family history and stuff like that, and we will be incredibly proud of him. So, fingers crossed. The last 10-12 years, my dad would have been looking down on us playing. And, fingers crossed, Ben can walk out and open the batting at Trent Bridge against England, which will be pretty cool."
Ben, who plays as a top-order batter for Northamptonshire, has featured in 43 first-class matches and averages 33.68 with 2257 runs.
"It was just natural as a player that you get disappointed" - Sam Curran on being overlooked for Test side
With the selectors not recalling Sam Curran after Ben Stokes' injury this summer ahead of the series against Sri Lanka, the all-rounder revealed that he discovered what the managing director of the England Cricket team, Robert Key, was looking for. He explained in the same interview:
"I chatted a little bit with Keysy about a few things. It was just natural as a player that you get disappointed. But I think the Test team’s got the players they have now and, you know, in 12 months’ time, it could be totally different. There’s no question they’re looking for extra pace, this stuff, and I don’t think I’m going to bowl 90 miles an hour overnight. So I am just going to try my best. And I’m pretty happy just trying to win games for England."
Curran, meanwhile, played an integral role in helping England level the three-game ODI series against the West Indies.