Sam Curran, England all-rounder will not join the England squad for the fourth Test due to the logistical challenges of travelling alone in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic.
England all-rounder Sam Curran will not feature in the squad in India for the fourth Test due to travel complications caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the England and Wales Cricket Board said on Thursday.
Sam Curran Will Not Arriving Before 4th Test Due To Logistical Challenges Of Travelling Alone In The Midst Of Covid-19
Sam Curran, who was rested for the first two matches, was due to fly to Ahmedabad in time for the fourth Test, which begins on March 4, but will instead arrive with the limited-overs squad.
Another England all-rounder Chris Woakes will leave the squad as planned after the third Test, which was a vacancy Sam Curran had been expected to fill.
“Originally it was planned the Surrey all-rounder would fly to Ahmedabad in time to be available for the fourth test in the city,” the ECB said in a statement.
“However, in the midst of the ongoing pandemic, making security arrangements for such a journey proved too great a logistical challenge.”
All-rounder Sam Curran didn’t travel to India alongside Jonny Bairstow and Mark Wood as scheduled and he wasn’t available for selection in the third Test in Ahmedabad from February 24. The 22-year-old Surrey cricketer was scheduled to travel to India to play the last 2 Tests but England and Wales Cricket Board decided to rest him to avert bubble fatigue. Sam Curran was due to join the team and was supposed to be available for selection for the fourth Test in Ahmedabad from March 4.
Jonny Bairstow Will Return For The 3rd Test
Jonny Bairstow, who along with Sam Curran and Mark Wood was rested following the 2-0 sweep in Sri Lanka, will return for the third Test which will be a day-night game that begins in Ahmedabad on February 24.
“There is a reason why I went to Sri Lanka, a reason why I am here in India. I want to play Test cricket and hopefully by doing well be rewarded by earning my red-ball contract back,” Bairstow told reporters.
“We are fortunate enough to be playing cricket for a living but naturally you want to be doing it and being paid what other players are. That’s above my station – I don’t need to get into that stuff, I need to concentrate on scoring runs.”
Sam Curran has played 21 Tests scoring 741 runs averaging 25.55 and picked 44 wickets averaging 32.52.