Sam Curran has opened up about his hopes of earning a recall to England's Test team ahead of next year's Ashes, admitting he would "love" to play under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.
Curran has played a total of 24 Tests in his career, scoring 815 runs and taking 47 wickets, but he has not featured since August 2021 after suffering a stress fracture of the back during the IPL that ruled him out of that year's T20 World Cup and subsequent Ashes tour of Australia.
After a six-month absence, Curran eased his way back into action with Surrey at the start of the County Championship season, playing primarily as a batter. As a result he was ruled out of contention for the New Zealand series in June, which marked the start of the Stokes-McCullum era, and instead focused more on white ball cricket.
That focus paid off in spades as Curran helped England win the T20 World Cup in November, getting named player of the tournament after taking 13 wickets at 11.38, but now he is once again fully fit the 24-year-old is eyeing a Test recall ahead of the Ashes.
"I'd love to be a part of that environment," Curran told the Vaughany and Tuffers Cricket Club podcast. "I haven't played under Stokes or McCullum, but the way they've been playing is amazing.
"I got injured last year where probably it ruled me out of all red ball cricket really this summer. So I haven't played much red ball. I think just watching the team, it probably suits similar to the style I like to play it is very attacking.
"And it's just more I think the confidence factor it seems that they are just giving everyone. It goes back to that fear of failure. I think in the past I've been massively guilty of it. I guess you worry about your spot in the side and if you don't perform."
Curran readily admits it will be difficult for him to force his way back into the side, particularly given the dearth of seam options England now have with players returning from injury, but whether he is playing or not he is "super excited" to see 'Bazball' take on Australia.
"I guess Broady [Stuart Broad] will come back, Jof [Jofra Archer] hopefully will be nice and ready for the summer as well," Curran added. "It's just a great team to watch and I will just keep trying to do well in the red ball games I do play.
"I'm super excited this summer's going to be crazy because that Aussie attack against the way our guys are batting is going to be incredibly exciting."
