Cricket News: Sam Curran was a revelation for England in the T20 World Cup

His performances against India in their 2018 Test series, both with bat and ball, cemented that. And it also earned him an IPL contract with the Punjab Kings

However, since Punjab Kings doesn’t have the most patient approach in the world, he was released by the team after not quite delivering in his first season. 

However, his time at Chennai Super Kings proved a precursor to what was about to come for him in white-ball cricket. 

But even the most ardent Sam Curran fans would not have expected him to become this good quickly. So what’s the secret to his success? 

For one, it’s crucial to prefix this with the obvious – he’s a highly talented player who always had what it takes to be a top operator. 

But talent can only take you so far; pure talent is never enough. Where Sam Curran differs from others, however, is his ability to learn quickly and his intuitive nature. 

Indeed, this was highlighted by Chennai Super King’s bowling coach Lakshimipathy Balaji in a recent interview with the newspaper The Indian Express. 

“He is a quick learner and constantly asks questions but isn’t the type to blindly follow just because I am the bowling coach."

“He would ask questions: ‘Why should I do that? How will the angle help me with that particular ball? Isn’t it better to go closer or farther from the stumps, as the case may be?"

“When convinced with the answer, he will hit the nets with great enthusiasm. Yes, he did go for a few big overs in some games, but he immediately looked to see how to improve."

“He would be initially agitated on such days and would tell me, ‘Oh! Why did I bowl that ball in that situation? I shouldn’t have.’"

“If I thought the ball was fine, but the execution probably wasn’t, he would listen intently.” 

Sam Curran was always seen as exceptional, but talent is nothing without hard work. And that is evident in Sam Curran’s game. 

He was never used in the death overs during the early parts of his career, but now England uses at least two of his four overs in that game phase. 

He isn’t an express pace bowler but can land the ball in the right areas with frightening accuracy – and has also developed an excellent yorker to go along with that. 

It is telling that his economy in the death overs is less than his career economy, such is his bowling accuracy in that game phase. 

Yet perhaps what makes him so dangerous is that he’s still eager to learn – and he’s not gotten to showcase just how good a batsman he is. 

Once he can become consistent with both ball and bat, he will be unstoppable – and England will have yet another world-class all-round option at their disposal.