- 2 days ago
Sam Curran on the IPL, brooks captaincy and India T20 series
03/07/2026
Old Trafford Manchester UK
03/07/2026
Old Trafford Manchester UK
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00:30A bit of uncertainty looking at it from the outside around English cricket at the moment, but can you give
00:34us an insight as to what the feeling is amongst the players in the camp ahead of what is obviously
00:39a big T20 international?
00:41Yeah, it's been really good. I've obviously been back at my club playing a lot, so it seems like there's
00:46been a lot going on.
00:47But since joining Durham, we had two couple of good training days and the mood's really good.
00:52I thought we did a really good effort in the field the other night in Durham, but wet conditions, we
00:58thought the score they got was very chaseable.
01:00So I think it's set up for a really good series ahead. Both teams had a little look at each
01:05other as well.
01:06So I guess hopefully tomorrow we have a nice sunny day and a full game of cricket.
01:10Yeah, after a lot of warm weather, it must have been frustrating to have so much rain ruin that first
01:14game.
01:14Yeah, it was. It was weird, I guess. Quite nice to have some rain, I guess, for the country.
01:20But that was one of those annoying nights where you're playing India full house and you really want to play
01:26those games.
01:27So both teams, I guess, will be frustrated. But like I said, still four more big games to go.
01:32Harry Brook obviously will leave the side.
01:34I know this week he said it would be a privilege if he could take on the test captaincy as
01:39well.
01:39As a player, do you have any fears about potentially taking on too much for one player to take on
01:46all forms of the game?
01:48I guess I only know Brookie around the white ball stuff. He's been amazing with us.
01:52We've had a really successful kind of six months and it's been really enjoyable.
01:56He's obviously such a world class player and only he will know if he can, I guess, do all all
02:01three jobs.
02:02But I guess, yeah, from my experience with him, it's been amazing.
02:06And hopefully, I guess, if he does, who knows what will happen.
02:09But, yeah, hopefully he can, like I said, he's probably going to be the only guy who can judge whether
02:13he can do all of them.
02:15But he's a phenomenal player and I'm sure if he does, guys will back him.
02:18You obviously played with some great captains. What leadership qualities does Harry have?
02:23Yeah, I guess I've played with Brookie for a long time now.
02:26So I guess my relationship and experience with him has just been very calm.
02:30And as a bowler, top of your mark, he always lets you do what you want to do and feel
02:34comfortable doing.
02:35And very clear in the way he wants us to play him and Baz.
02:38So it's been great.
02:39And like I said, I can only speak from the white ball side.
02:43It's been amazing.
02:44And like playing against India again, kind of a little, we look back at when we played them in the
02:49World Cup.
02:50So two very good teams.
02:51And I think hopefully we can just have a good series and win.
02:54If I could throw you a red ball, there's obviously a void in the England test side now for an
02:59all-rounder.
02:59You've not played for a few years, I know.
03:01But is that potentially something that you feel you could fill given the opportunity?
03:05Yeah, I guess obviously my schedule hasn't really allowed much red ball cricket in terms of going to different tournaments,
03:12things like that.
03:12Played a few games this season.
03:14So like I said, Stokes is going to be a big gap to fill for whoever takes that role.
03:19But yeah, I guess I love playing for England.
03:21So whatever format that is, I'll do my best.
03:24Like I said, now we've got a big series, so focused on that.
03:27And then I guess we'll see what happens later on.
03:30Yeah, just to pick up on that, really, Sam, five years since you played a test match.
03:35Can you believe it's that long, really?
03:38Yeah, it feels a long time, yeah.
03:39But no, I think that's just the way my career has kind of gone on that path.
03:43And I did start cricket when I was very young and obviously hopefully still got a lot more to play
03:47ahead.
03:48So it does feel a long time, yeah.
03:50What would have to change in your career for you to sort of re-embrace a test spot, you know,
03:57with all your franchise commitments, etc.?
03:59Do you feel like much would have to change for you to put yourself back in the mix for that?
04:05I don't really know, to be honest.
04:06I guess hopefully just keep doing really well in the white ball sides and play, I guess, the Red Bull
04:12cricket when I've got the opportunity.
04:13Played a couple of games this season for Surrey.
04:15I've obviously come off an injury, so played a little bit of just getting myself back into that.
04:19And, yeah, I guess still got the series in in 100.
04:23And then, so who knows?
04:24There's obviously going to be a lot of noise on whoever takes that spot.
04:27But, yeah, I guess I don't want to really look too far ahead.
04:31I love playing cricket for England, so I do my best whenever I can.
04:35Obviously, when you did play for Surrey, there's only a handful of overs, really, you were able to get through.
04:41Would a sort of a full-on test match recall, you know, you played 20-odd tests, you know what
04:45the commitments are for it and the physical demands.
04:49Would the Pakistan series be too soon to get up to speed or do you feel like you could?
04:54Again, I don't want to look too far ahead, but there's obviously ODI cricket and stuff like that and T20s.
05:01And I think you never know until you play, I guess.
05:05So whoever, like I said, I don't want to put pressure on myself.
05:07And I'm a competitive person.
05:10Whatever challenge is thrown at me, I'll try my best.
05:12And I guess I'm just really excited to be back playing full part bowling again.
05:16Obviously, frustrating two and a half months being injured.
05:19It's probably a nice time, again, to always feel like I'm full on.
05:23So I guess there to sort my injury out and a lot of rehab with the medical staff.
05:28So feeling good.
05:29And I guess, yeah, it's a long summer ahead.
05:32And there's obviously going to be a lot of noise around whoever is going to move forward.
05:35And, yeah, I guess I'll just try my best.
05:37If I can just add one more to the noise, if that helps.
05:40How do you review your first part of your test career, really?
05:45You know, you had highs against India.
05:47You took times where you opened the bowling and played big rules with bat and ball.
05:52How do you reflect on it now?
05:54And what kind of a player do you think you are compared to that?
05:57Are you more rounded, more knowledgeable?
06:00Yeah, it feels a very long time ago, to be honest.
06:03Probably say a word, something like I was very raw back in those days, I guess.
06:08I played a lot of, even white ball cricket, probably 18, 19 when I started.
06:13I guess it feels a very long time ago.
06:16And I just feel a lot more experienced.
06:18So I guess feeling comfortable in the white ball side.
06:21My role is nice and clear.
06:23And I guess, yeah, my last Red Bull game for England was a long time ago.
06:27So, yeah, I think you can be excited by what's ahead.
06:32But at the same time, I'm not someone who wants to look too far ahead.
06:35I just want to keep trying my best and, yeah, just put some performances in.
06:40First India, a quality team.
06:42So, yeah, who knows?
06:46Sam, one of the big talking points of this series is when will India play Surya Vanchi?
06:51He's had obviously a phenomenal start to his career.
06:53Whenever he does get the nod, hopefully at some point in the series,
06:56do you have an idea about how you bolter him, how you contain him?
07:02Well, I guess it's an incredible story, isn't it?
07:04I watched a lot of the IPL from home.
07:05And it's just watching a guy who's making it look so easy.
07:09It's truly incredible and is rightly so getting the attention he deserves.
07:12I guess, I think, I guess in England, it'll be probably a different challenge as well.
07:17The surfaces are very different, a lot slower than in India.
07:20And guys can have their plans and all this kind of thing.
07:23He's so raw that he's got, he's just having the time of his life, isn't he?
07:26So he's kind of, I guess, we will have our plans, of course.
07:29But I'm not saying they're the right plans.
07:31You never know because he's playing really well.
07:33But he will have, playing for India at 15 years old is such a cool story.
07:38And I think even as opposition, you've got to admire the skill and things like that.
07:42But at the end of the day, it's that V ball and me as a ball,
07:45I'll try and execute my skills.
07:47And yeah, let's hopefully, I'm sure, in a way, he's getting so much attention.
07:51But it'll be interesting.
07:53He's playing in England, maybe on a slow surface and things like that might be a bit different.
07:58But there's no doubt he's pretty special for what he's doing.
08:03You know what it's like playing in India.
08:05You know the focus on players.
08:07You've been a big IPL name.
08:10I'm guessing the focus on this kid is huge.
08:14Like, what are the challenges of being a big-name cricketer, playing in India,
08:19just off the field, really, away from just playing cricket?
08:21What are the challenges?
08:22And how impressed have you been with how he's kind of dealt with that side of it?
08:26Yeah, I guess I've had experience of being in India.
08:29But I think being an Indian cricketer in India is probably much bigger than we are, I guess, in a
08:34way.
08:34So I think that'll probably be his biggest challenge, I guess, is how he handles that.
08:39Like I said, he's played one or two IPL seasons as well, straight into the Indian squads now.
08:43That'll just be, I'm sure he's got people around him trying to help him, things like that.
08:48But I guess you never know until he's given his debut and see how he goes.
08:54I'm sure he's going to have ups and downs like anybody else.
08:57But as a cricket player, you've got to enjoy what he's doing because it is pretty cool.
09:0315 years old.
09:04I think I was just rocking in the Surrey Indoor School at 15.
09:08So I mean, he's smacking it around on Medabad and places like that.
09:12So it is pretty cool.
09:13But, yeah, hopefully he can just keep his head down and keep, even as a player, I'll just love watching.
09:19Hopefully it's not against my bowling.
09:20But it's just pretty cool.
09:23And hopefully, for India's sake, he can keep doing really well.
09:27But hopefully against us, it doesn't happen as good.
09:31Sam, just on your own experiences of leadership with Surrey and in franchise cricket,
09:35do you feel as though that's brought the best out of you as a player when you've had those chances?
09:41Yeah, I guess it's something I've enjoyed doing there at Surrey and around the different franchises I have.
09:47But what's this link?
09:49Is this trying to find a different headline or something?
09:52But no, I do enjoy it.
09:54But right now, I'm just obviously enjoying the setup and kind of trying my best.
09:58I was just going to ask as a follow-up, if Harry takes on all the jobs or takes on
10:07the test job
10:07and there are opportunities down the line to lead England, presumably you'd see that as a privilege
10:11and something you'd jump at the opportunity to do.
10:13Well, I don't know, of course.
10:14But like I said, Brookie's done an amazing job with us.
10:17So everyone's speculating, speculating.
10:19I think it's pointless in a way.
10:21Let's just try and crack on with this series and see how we go.
10:24Because I think this team's doing really well and just enjoy being back in the side.
10:28Obviously, I had time out of it and it's been great.
10:31The only other one I was going to ask was just about Kumar Sangakara's comments at the end of the
10:35IPL.
10:35Have you had the chance to sort of clear the air with him and get that situation to bed?
10:43I don't know.
10:44I don't really want to go into that too much, to be honest.
10:46Let's just crack on with what the series has had.
10:49Sam, I just wanted an extended version on that.
10:52But Jofra played with Suryavanshi and then you're also a teammate now as far as Rajasthan.
10:58Ravi is also here, your teammate in Rajasthan Royal.
11:01Is there any kind of chatter between you and Jof around Suryavanshi or you want to have any kind of,
11:06you know,
11:06because you were not there in this year's IPL because of the injury.
11:09So, the first thing is that and the second thing is, can you talk about that trade happened from Chennai
11:16to Rajasthan?
11:17Was it surprising for you because you're second stint with them or is it just all okay with Chennai to
11:23Rajasthan Royals?
11:25Yeah, I haven't really chatted much with Jof.
11:27He obviously played with those guys you said.
11:30Jof's joined the side, obviously, after a tough test series in terms of workload.
11:35So, he had a rest.
11:36But, yeah, I'm sure we'll have a bowlers meeting and if he's got anything he can help us with on
11:40his experience in the IPL, of course.
11:42And, yeah, I guess I didn't go to Rajasthan this year.
11:45So, I guess I don't really know how the team was and, I guess, those players.
11:51But, I was watching from afar and they had a really good season.
11:55So, yeah, I guess for me personally, I was part of the trade and it feels like quite a long
12:00time ago.
12:01And, yeah, I guess I don't really know what more to say.
12:08Sam, with regards to white ball cricket,
12:11England went through quite a tough time.
12:12Obviously, Jof's then lost his job or whatever last year and Brookie's taken over.
12:17You mentioned Brookie.
12:18The results have obviously improved somewhat.
12:21What do you think the team has done better in that period of time?
12:24What have you improved on, do you think, as a team in Brook's captaincy?
12:30I think just after the winter we had, we played and I think probably the right word is we adapted
12:35really well to different conditions.
12:37I think maybe in the past we probably didn't adapt as well.
12:40I think in Sri Lanka we had a great series win there.
12:42The surfaces were really tricky.
12:43And then we went to the World Cup.
12:45We had some really nervy games, which we held our nerve in certain situations against some of the nations we
12:51probably haven't played before.
12:52And then just in the World Cup, I think we were really set in our roles, consistent kind of role
12:58clarity and combinations of the batting order.
13:00And, yeah, I think the vibe's just a really good vibe at the minute around the group.
13:04We all, it feels like we all kind of, that's similar with a few experienced guys like Joss and Rash.
13:12And then we obviously got myself, Brookie, kind of like Vance, Jaxie.
13:15We all feel like we've played a lot of cricket together, even though it isn't with England.
13:18It feels like when we come to this white ball scene, we're very set on our roles and it feels
13:23like we've fit in quite smoothly.
13:25So that's been the message since joining.
13:27I guess we've actually had some nice success in terms of when we have played.
13:32Obviously, we lost that World Cup semi-final by a few runs, which is a cracking game.
13:37So we can take confidence from that.
13:38And now we're playing in England against them again.
13:40We'll hopefully keep that.
13:42I think we've fielded really well.
13:43And I think the buzz around the group's been great.
13:45So hopefully it continues.
13:46What could a series win over India do then?
13:50I mean, those games you talked about in the World Cup, what have you, in Sri Lanka.
13:54What could actually beating India do for this team, do you think?
13:56It'll be great.
13:57I think it'll be a huge confidence booster.
13:59Just kind of, I guess, series win against the top team, the champions, back-to-back.
14:05They're obviously a great team.
14:07And I think, yeah, it'll just, I guess, really help for the summer ahead.
14:11I think the team, it'll be great if we can get a series win just for England cricket in general.
14:15So I think that's our goal.
14:17And one game at a time, we start, I guess, tomorrow after a little washout.
14:22Sam, I just wanted to know, as an all-rounder, you play multiple formats as well.
14:28And specifically for a pass-balling all-rounder, how mentally taxing it is to, you know,
14:33with all your commitments, international commitments, franchisee commitments,
14:36how mentally and physically taxing it is, and what do you do as a workload management,
14:41if you can talk about your workload management.
14:43Because in India, we have seen that someone like Hardik Pandeya or maybe Nitish Kumar,
14:48they're struggling to, you know, get fit ahead of this important series.
14:51So just wanted to focus on that.
14:53Yeah, I guess it can be tricky doing both.
14:55Obviously, I've just come off an injury now.
14:58And I could probably say I was a little bit just from, I guess, consistency of playing a lot
15:02and not really having a long training block, but feeling good having had my kind of rehab program
15:07and back hopefully on track.
15:10It's tricky, but I guess guys have their schedules aligned.
15:14They can kind of, I guess, for us probably being a bit more certain about which franchise tournaments
15:20we go to and kind of making sure that we're recovering really well
15:23and not overdoing it and things like that.
15:26But, yeah, I guess being an all-rounder, that's why it's kind of one of the challenges
15:29we try and do our best.
15:31So I guess it's just trying to train really hard in the gym and your bowling, batting, fielding,
15:37things like that fitness-wise.
15:39And, yeah, you can see a lot of the best all-rounders are fit and strong
15:43and I guess just trying to balance out the teams and do their best.
15:53Uh-huh.
15:53Uh-huh.
15:54Uh-huh.
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