England vs India: 6 interesting facts about new pace sensation Sam Curran

Young English sensation Sam Curran announced himself to the cricketing world by ripping apart the Indian top-order in the space of eight balls during the first Test at Edgbaston. With India building a steady 50-run opening partnership, the teenage Surrey bowler was brought on by Root and boy he delivered not with one but three big wickets.

Curran first got rid of Murali Vijay, trapping the right-hander plumb in-front of the wickets with a ball that angled back at the batsman. Two balls later, KL Rahul walked back after pulling a wide half-volley into the stumps. He fooled Shikhar Dhawan into playing an out-swinger and the left-hander perished offering a simple catch to Dawid Malan just two overs later.

The 20-year-old then castled Hardik Pandya to prevent another big partnership. Curran, however, wreaked havoc not just with the ball but was equally good with the bat. After making a gritty 24 in the first innings, he returned blushed to smash a blistering 63 in the second to save England from the blushes.

THE Live Mirror points out 6 interesting facts of England’s new bowling sensation.

6 interesting facts Sam Curran

Cricket runs in the family blood –

That Sam is the youngest son of former Zimbabwe all-rounder Kevin Curran and is the younger brother of Tom Curran is a known fact. But cricket was present in the family even before Kevin (Sam’s father) started playing the game in 1959. Tom and Sam’s grandfather Kevin Patrick Curran was a first-class cricketer in Zimbabwe. He represented Rhodesia in seven first-class cricket matches between 1947 and 1955.

They also have a middle brother Ben Curran, who is a left-handed batsman and plays for Northamptonshire’s 2^nd XI.

Zimbabwe link –

Although born in the county of Northampton in England, Sam represented Zimbabwe U-13s at the 2011-2012 CSA U-13 Week Tournament. And had former England international Alec Stewart not invited the Curran family to come and reside in Surrey, both Sam and Tom may well have been playing for Zimbabwe.

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Director of cricket at Surrey, Stewart asked the Curran family to come and live in Surrey, a month after their father Kevin’s death. Both Tom and Sam were incorporated into the Surrey age group cricket and went on to represent the Surrey senior team after rising through the ranks. He also played the 2016 U-19 World Cup for England.

Sam who made his debut at the County Championships in 2015, became the second youngest player – at 17 years and 40 days – after Tony Lock 69 years ago to play for Surrey.

Unique record –

In his maiden season at the County Championships, Sam combined with elder brother Tom to take all 10 wickets in a single innings against Northamptonshire. They became the first pair of siblings to achieve the feat in nearly 65 years. Tom finished with 7/35 while Sam took 3/46 respectively to accumulate combined figures of 10/81.

Only second player to score same runs as age on birthday –

Sam was selected as a backup option for Ben Stokes in the England Test team against Pakistan and he made his debut in the second Test match in Leeds on May 30, 2018, just three days before his 20^th birthday. On the day of his birthday, Sam batted and got out on the score of 20. Thus, making him the only second player in Test cricket to score as many runs as his age on birthday.

Geoff Pullar of England had scored 26 on his 26^th birthday against Australia in the 1961 Ashes. Pullar, who was born on August 1, 1935, made 63 in the opening innings of the Test. Then on the final day, which also was his 26^th birthday, Pullar made exactly 26 before being clean bowled by Alan Davidson.

Second youngest ODI debutant for England –

After becoming the seventh-youngest cricketer to play a Test match for England, Sam Curran also became the second youngest player to make ODI debut for England. Ben Hollioake at the age of 19 years and 195 days remains the youngest English player to play an ODI and is followed by Sam at 20 years and 21 days. Stuart Broad, who made his debut at the age of 20 years and 67 days is third on the list.

Youngest England player to take a 4-wicket haul in Test cricket –

After running through the entire Indian top order in the space of eight balls, Sam Curran came back 30 overs later in the second day of the first Test match between England and India to LBW Hardik Pandya (22) and become the youngest England player to take 4-wicket haul in Test cricket.

He added the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane in the second innings to take a 5-fer in the match and also scored a brilliant 63 off 65 balls to help England to a victory. He won the Man of the Match award for his efforts.