Cricket

Sam Curran, the 26-year-old all-rounder, has expressed his disappointment at being overlooked for a Test recall despite Ben Stokes' injury. Curran, who was named Player of the Final and Tournament in England's T20 World Cup triumph in 2021, feels he has not been given a clear role in white-ball cricket and does not "fit the mould" of what England is looking for under Brendon McCullum.Curran's struggles in England's T20 title defense in the Caribbean earlier this year, where he took three wickets at 38.33 and batted for a total of 11 balls in five matches, have not helped his cause. He has also not featured in the ODI format since December 2023.In red-ball cricket, Curran's last Test appearance came against India in August 2021. He believes his physical limitations, particularly his height and pace, may be working against him.Despite his impressive record of contributing to winning causes, with 16 victories in his 24 Test caps, Curran has been unable to break into McCullum's England team. He acknowledges that Stokes' status as England's senior all-rounder is a factor, but also suspects that his physical attributes are not in line with the current trend towards taller, faster bowlers.Curran's omission from the recent Test series against Sri Lanka was particularly disappointing for him. He had hoped to use Stokes' injury as an opportunity to regain his place in the team.However, England's eight-match tour of the Caribbean offers Curran a chance to showcase his abilities. With several multi-format stars absent, he may have the opportunity to bat up the order and play a more central role.Curran remains determined to prove his worth and earn a place in England's Ashes squad and future Champions Trophy victory. He believes that scoring runs, taking wickets, and winning games for England or his franchises is the only way to achieve his goals.

Travis Head's Blitzkrieg Powers Australia to T20I Victory Over EnglandIn a thrilling encounter at the Rose Bowl in Southampton, Australian opener Travis Head unleashed a devastating assault on England's Sam Curran, smashing 30 runs off a single over to propel his team to a commanding 28-run victory in the first T20I.Head's pyrotechnics were the centerpiece of Australia's innings, as he plundered 59 runs off just 23 deliveries, including four towering sixes and eight boundaries. His partnership with Matthew Short (41 off 26) laid the foundation for Australia's competitive total of 179.The carnage unfolded in the fifth over of the Australian innings, when Curran replaced Jofra Archer in the attack. Head greeted him with a flurry of boundaries before unleashing three consecutive sixes, sending the ball soaring over the ropes with effortless power. He capped off the over with another four, leaving Curran reeling and the crowd in awe.England's chase got off to a shaky start, with the hosts losing four wickets for just 52 runs in the first eight overs. Liam Livingstone and Sam Curran attempted to steady the ship with a 54-run partnership, but Australia's bowlers maintained the pressure.Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood proved to be the tormentors for England, claiming two wickets apiece. Zampa's leg-spin bamboozled the English batsmen, while Hazlewood's pace and accuracy kept them on the back foot.In the end, England were bowled out for 151, falling short of Australia's target by 28 runs. The victory gives Australia a 1-0 lead in the three-match series, with the second match scheduled for Friday in Cardiff.

Oval Invincibles, the defending champions of The Hundred, secured a crucial victory over Southern Brave, the league leaders, in a top-of-the-table clash at The Kia Oval. The six-wicket triumph marked a significant scalp for the Invincibles in their quest to retain their title.Tom Curran, the elder brother of Sam Curran, played a pivotal role in restricting Southern Brave to a modest total of 118 for eight. His four-wicket haul, coupled with two wickets from Sam Curran, stifled the Brave's batting lineup. James Vince, with a valiant 52 from 39 balls, was the lone bright spot for the visitors.The Invincibles' chase got off to a peculiar start, with Dawid Malan facing 10 consecutive dot balls and Chris Jordan conceding no runs from his first 11 deliveries. However, Jordan Cox, England's latest Test call-up, and Sam Curran broke the shackles with a 58-run partnership from 27 balls. Cox remained unbeaten on 46 from 29 balls, guiding the Invincibles to victory with 15 balls to spare.Sam Curran, who has been instrumental in the Invincibles' recent run of five wins in six games, was named the Meerkat Match Hero for the third consecutive time. He praised the team's collective effort, particularly the bowling partnership with his brother Tom."We have complemented each other really well with the ball this season," said Sam Curran. "We knew we had to win this to give us the best chance of going straight through to Lord's (and reach the final)."The victory strengthens the Invincibles' position in the standings, moving them a step closer to securing a place in the knockout stages. Southern Brave, despite the setback, remain atop the table but face a stern test in their remaining fixtures.

Oval Invincibles emerged victorious in a nail-biting last-ball thriller against Manchester Originals at Emirates Old Trafford, securing a three-run victory to ascend to the top of the table.Sam Curran, the England all-rounder, once again proved to be the match-winner for the Invincibles, showcasing his exceptional skills with both bat and ball. Curran's blistering knock of 68 runs from 38 deliveries, including six towering sixes, propelled the Invincibles to a competitive total of 164 for 8.Manchester Originals, despite a promising start, faltered in their chase, falling short by a mere three runs. Young opener Matthew Hurst impressed with a scintillating 50 from 29 balls, but his dismissal triggered a collapse in the Originals' batting lineup.Curran's heroics with the ball were equally impressive. He conceded just three runs from the final five deliveries of the match, ensuring the Invincibles' victory. His two wickets, along with the contributions of Will Jacks (2-16) and Adam Zampa (2-30), proved crucial in restricting the Originals to 161 for 7.The defeat extinguished the Originals' hopes of reaching the knockout stage, while the Invincibles extended their winning streak and cemented their position as title contenders. Curran's consistent brilliance has been a key factor in the Invincibles' success, and his ability to perform under pressure has earned him widespread admiration."I thought with the ball it felt like we bowled really well," Curran said after the match. "I think our success at the moment is just the self-belief. Everyone is able to step up and it can always be someone different. The Hundred format is good because you can always feel in the game."

The Oval Invincibles emerged victorious in a thrilling encounter against the London Spirit at Lord's, securing their third win in four matches in The Hundred. Sam Curran's exceptional all-round performance proved pivotal in the Invincibles' 30-run triumph.Curran's blistering knock of 51 from just 22 deliveries propelled the Invincibles to a competitive total of 147 for 5 on a challenging pitch. His innings included three consecutive sixes off Nathan Ellis, showcasing his power-hitting prowess.In response, the Spirit's openers, Keaton Jennings and Michael Pepper, provided a solid start, guiding their team to 35 for 0 in the powerplay. However, the Invincibles' spin attack, led by Adam Zampa and Nathan Sowter, tightened the screws, dismissing both openers and Ollie Pope in quick succession.Dan Lawrence and Shimron Hetmyer briefly revived the Spirit's hopes, but Zampa's dismissal of both batsmen left the visitors needing 56 runs from the final 30 balls. Andre Russell attempted to rally his team, but Curran's hat-trick, the third in the history of The Hundred men's competition, sealed the victory for the Invincibles.Curran's five-wicket haul, including the hat-trick, earned him the Meerkat Match Hero award. He expressed his satisfaction with the performance, acknowledging the challenges posed by Russell and the importance of securing the win.The Invincibles' victory consolidates their position in the top half of the standings, while the Spirit remain winless after four matches. The result highlights the importance of all-round contributions and the impact of spin bowling in The Hundred.

Surrey's Sam Curran produced a scintillating performance, smashing his maiden T20 century to guide his team to a thrilling five-wicket victory over Hampshire at The Kia Oval. The triumph secured Surrey a home quarter-final and the top spot in the South Group.Curran, the England all-rounder, unleashed a barrage of six sixes and seven fours in his unbeaten 58-ball 102. He reached his century with the winning hit, as Surrey chased down Hampshire's target of 184 with five balls to spare.Curran, who was dropped on 11 and caught off a no-ball on 44, shared crucial partnerships with Dominic Sibley (27) and Jamie Overton (21). John Turner emerged as the pick of Hampshire's bowlers, claiming 2 for 30.Hampshire's innings was anchored by Toby Albert's career-best 66, his first half-century in the format. Jordan Clark's economical 3 for 24 kept the target within reach, while Matt Dunn, playing his first T20 match in three years, chipped in with two wickets.Despite missing their leading scorers Ollie Pope and Jamie Smith due to Test duty, Surrey's batters stepped up to the challenge. Will Jacks started aggressively with a six off the first ball, but Brad Wheal dismissed him and Laurie Evans in quick succession.Eddie Jack removed Rory Burns with a stunning catch by Tom Prest, leaving Surrey reeling at 27 for 3. However, Curran's reprieve on 11 proved pivotal. He celebrated by hitting Dawson for a six and then punished Howell with two consecutive maximums.Despite losing Sibley, Curran reached his half-century in 34 balls and surpassed his previous career-best in the format with a fourth six. Overton joined the party with two sixes off Jack, and although he departed before the end, Curran sealed the victory with a six into the Bedser Stand.

Rajasthan Royals' playoff hopes took a significant hit as they suffered a fifth consecutive defeat in the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024, this time at the hands of Punjab Kings. Despite the loss, the Royals remain in contention for a playoff berth with 16 points, but their inferior net run rate could prove costly.Punjab Kings restricted Rajasthan Royals to a modest 144 for nine on a challenging pitch. Riyan Parag top-scored for the Royals with 48 off 34 balls, while Sam Curran, Harshal Patel, Nathan Ellis, and Rahul Chahar shared the wickets for Punjab.In response, Punjab Kings skipper Curran led from the front with an unbeaten 63 off 41 balls, guiding his team to a five-wicket victory with seven balls to spare. Curran's innings was crucial as Punjab chased down the target with relative ease.After the match, Rajasthan Royals skipper Sanju Samson expressed his disappointment and acknowledged the need for introspection. "We have to sit back and accept that we are going through failures, have lost four games on the trot. Got to find out what's not working out for us as a team. Somebody needs to step up, we have so many match-winners in the team. This is the time we need to show character," Samson said.Samson also highlighted the team's struggles on challenging pitches, where high scores have become the norm. "We are not used to playing on such wickets this season where 200-plus totals are getting scored easily. We had to play smart cricket and build those partnerships today," he added.With just one match remaining in the league stage, Rajasthan Royals face an uphill task to finish in the top two. Their net run rate is significantly lower than that of Sunrisers Hyderabad, who are also in contention for a playoff spot. The Royals will need to win their final match and hope for other results to go their way in order to secure a top-two finish.

In a thrilling encounter at the Wankhede Stadium, Punjab Kings emerged victorious over Rajasthan Royals by five wickets, thanks to a stellar performance from captain Sam Curran.Curran led the charge with a well-paced half-century, scoring 63 not out off 41 deliveries. His innings included five boundaries and three sixes, providing the much-needed stability to the Punjab Kings' chase. He found able support from Jitesh Sharma, who contributed 22 runs off 20 balls. The duo shared a crucial 63-run partnership for the fifth wicket, guiding their team to victory in 18.5 overs.Despite a modest target of 145, the Punjab Kings faced a challenge on a sluggish track. However, Curran's composed batting and crucial wickets proved decisive. He claimed two wickets for 24 runs, including the key scalp of Riyan Parag, who had played a valiant knock of 48 for Rajasthan Royals.Earlier, Rajasthan Royals struggled to post a competitive total, managing only 144 for nine. Riyan Parag and R Ashwin provided some resistance with a 50-run partnership, but the Punjab Kings' bowlers maintained a tight line and length, making it difficult for the Royals' batters to score freely.Avesh Khan was the pick of the Punjab Kings' bowlers, claiming two wickets for 28 runs. Nathan Ellis and Rahul Chahar also chipped in with two wickets each.Despite their fourth consecutive defeat, Rajasthan Royals remain in second place on the table with 16 points, securing a spot in the playoffs. Punjab Kings, on the other hand, move up to fifth place with their fifth win of the season.

Punjab Kings Triumph Over Rajasthan Royals in Guwahati ThrillerIn a captivating encounter at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati, Punjab Kings (PBKS) emerged victorious over Rajasthan Royals (RR) by five wickets, snapping RR's four-match winning streak.RR, batting first, struggled to gain momentum, posting a modest total of 144 for 9. Riyan Parag top-scored with a valiant 48, while Ravichandran Ashwin contributed 28. Sam Curran led the PBKS bowling attack with an impressive 2 for 24, supported by Deepak Chahar and Harshal Patel, who claimed two wickets each.PBKS's chase got off to a shaky start, losing four wickets for just 48 runs in the first eight overs. However, Curran stepped up to the plate, anchoring the innings with an unbeaten 63. His knock, laced with six fours and two sixes, guided PBKS to victory with seven balls to spare.Curran's heroics overshadowed Parag's efforts, who had earlier played a crucial role in RR's innings. The local boy from Guwahati struck five fours and two sixes in his 48-run knock, but it proved insufficient to prevent RR's downfall.The victory propelled PBKS to the fifth spot in the IPL standings, while RR slipped to seventh. The result highlights the unpredictable nature of T20 cricket, where fortunes can change rapidly.