England all-rounder Sam Curran is excited about Jofra Archer’s return, believing his extra pace and fear factor will significantly boost the team as they prepare for their T20 World Cup title defence. Sam Curran also hopes that Archer’s career will no longer be hindered by injuries, allowing him to make a lasting impact on the national side.
Sam Curran has established himself as a valuable all-rounder in the T20 format. While still young, he’s already achieved a fair bit. Sam Curran was a key member of England’s T20 World Cup victory in 2022, even being named Player of the Tournament for his impressive bowling performance (13 wickets). Curran’s IPL career has also been noteworthy. He made his debut in 2019 and has played for three different franchises – Kings XI Punjab (now Punjab Kings), Chennai Super Kings, and currently, Punjab Kings again. Sam Curran is known for his ability to contribute with both bat and ball. Sam Curran even bagged a hat-trick for Punjab Kings in 2019. However, the 2024 IPL season hasn’t been Curran’s strongest showing. Despite being the most expensive player at the auction (bought by Punjab Kings for a whopping ₹18.5 crore), his performance hasn’t quite lived up to the price tag. With the bat, he averages a decent 27.00, with a highest score of 63. His bowling hasn’t been as impactful either, picking up only 16 wickets in 13 matches.
Jofra Archer is a name that strikes fear in the hearts of batsmen around the world. Blessed with raw pace and exceptional swing bowling skills, he’s considered one of the most exciting fast bowlers of the modern era. His Test debut for England was a dream come true, instrumental in their historic 2019 World Cup victory.
Archer’s career has been plagued by a series of unfortunate injuries. In 2021, he underwent two surgeries on his right elbow, sidelining him from international cricket for nearly a year. He attempted a comeback in 2022 but was struck down again, this time with a stress fracture in his back, ruling him out of the entire English summer. There were glimmers of hope in 2023. Archer returned to the England squad, even taking his best figures in an ODI match against South Africa. Unfortunately, the joy was short-lived. He suffered another recurrence of the elbow stress fracture, forcing him to miss the Ashes series.
What Sam Curran Said
Speaking to reporters on Monday, Sam Curran expressed his hope to see Archer bring his ‘A’ game following a challenging period. As quoted by The Guardian, he stated,
“I’m sure England fans and players are extremely buzzed to have him back. He’s got that extra pace and fear factor we can bring to opposition as well. Jof has had a really tough couple of years, we all hope he can come back and do what he does for England and bring the ‘A game’ we know he’s got. Hopefully his injuries are behind him now,”
The 29-year-old showcased his skills for Sussex’s second XI, bowling six overs and taking a wicket, signaling promising prospects for England.
With all the England players leaving IPL 2024 before the playoffs for international duty, Curran believes it’s important to play together to get used to their roles before the big tournament. The left-hander added,
“It makes sense. We want to be playing as [an England] team and get used to our roles. It’s quite hard to go straight into a big tournament if you haven’t played together. [Playing against Pakistan] is a hugely important series,”
The first of the four T20Is between England and Pakistan begins on May 22 in Leeds. England and Pakistan are also among the few teams without warm-up matches before the T20 World Cup.