"The way that whole situation panned out last year wasn't how anyone wanted it to happen" - Tom Curran on 4th umpire incident during BBL'13
England and Melbourne Stars seamer Tom Curran hopes to redeem himself in the 2024-25 Big Bash League (BBL) season. Even though the Sydney Sixers decided not to renew his contract ahead of the upcoming edition, the right-arm fast bowler said it had nothing to do with the fourth-umpire incident.
Curran faced a four-game sanction for intimidating the fourth umpire Muhammad Qureshi during a nets session ahead of Sydney Sixers' game against the Hobart Hurricanes. He did feature in that match and finished with figures of 3/19 but played only a couple more games following the ban before a knee injury cut his campaign short.
Speaking to ESPN Cricinfo, the 29-year-old spoke highly of the Sixers despite the franchise not retaining him, claiming to have made some good friends. He also feels it's the right time for a change as the Sixers were looking for other overseas options.
"Obviously, the way that whole situation panned out last year wasn't how anyone wanted it to happen. I don't feel like it was an issue with the Sixers. We fought the case together and they backed me which I really appreciated.
"Whenever I represented the Sixers I felt like I did them proud, not just on the field, felt like I gave it my all, immersed myself in the culture and made some amazing friends. I got a decent idea that they were looking at other [overseas] options and they couldn't commit at the same sort of [level] that the Stars were showing. It just felt [like] the right decision, a good time for a change."
The South African-born bowler joined the Sixers in 2018 and has featured in 36 matches, taking 51 wickets at 19.76.
"I feel like I'm a better all-round player than I was then" - Tom Curran
With Curran proving himself a gun all-rounder of late, evidenced by a 34-ball 67 in The Hundred 2023 final for the Oval Invincibles, the 29-year-old said he has become wiser than he was before. He elaborated:
"The roles I'm playing, feel like it's quite a niche and the hardest thing about them is the consistency which I feel like I've done well. But it's not eating up my mental headspace, it's not what's motivating me every day and I feel that's a good place to be.
"I've had a fair few years to reflect on not playing and what I did when I did play. I feel like I'm a better all-round player than I was then. A bit older and feel like I know my value now."
The 14th season of BBL will begin on December 15.