Tom Curran is one of the most prominent names in Desert Vipers for the inaugural season of DP World ILT20. He is known for his right-arm fast-medium bowling. But Curran is also an excellent all-rounder with a right-handed batting style. The well-known English cricketer has played One-Day Internationals, T20s, and Test matches for his country.
Recently, Tom Currans shared his thoughts on the Vipers Voice Podcast. He said,
“Getting back (to international cricket) is something I would love, but it is not my focus. I want to get back to playing, enjoying, and being happy in my life.”
Tom Curran’s Simple Mantra
- Taking The Winters Off
Thomas Kevin Curran, commonly known as Tom Curran, was the first international player in his Desert Vipers squad to arrive in Dubai for the DP World ILT20. The English all-rounder took the winter off and claimed he was ready to go.
In a recent podcast with Vipers Voice, Curran stated,
“I had a bit of time off over Christmas. All the training over in England at the moment is indoors, so I thought it (arriving early) just gave me a nice ten-day build-up to the tournament, where I can get my work done and I am not rushing. (Getting here early was) just to have a nice steady build-up in my preparation.”
Choosing DP World ILT20
Tom Curran has played in the Big Bash League for Sydney Sixers. He was the fourth-highest wicket-taker in that tournament. When asked about the DP World ILT20, Curran said it was an easy decision. According to him, the English all-rounder had several reasons to be part of this upcoming league. He said,
“(I had) a few reasons (for choosing the DP World ILT20). Moods (Tom Moody, the Desert Vipers Director of Cricket) was one, and James Foster, who I have worked with previously and I really loved how he goes about his work. To play under him will be great. I have enjoyed my time in Dubai previously, as it is a nice place to play. It all felt right. It was a good time for me, and I am really excited for this journey.”
The all-rounder has been out of the game for over a year now. He was part of the Big Bash League in 2021 but could not participate due to a lower-back injury. Since then, Curran has not played any form of international cricket. He also agreed with the question that ILT20 could be a chance for him to get back into cricket. The English cricketer said,
“Getting back (to international cricket) is something I would love to do, but it is not my focus. I want to get back playing at the moment and enjoying and being happy in my life. I think all tournaments will be good shop windows (for me in front of the England selectors) but it is just about playing. The group of players, the location. We are setting up camp in one hotel, which is quite a big thing. I don’t enjoy flying around and living out of suitcases, so this was just the best option for me.”
On Sam Curran’s Success
Tom is the son of Kevin Curran, a former international cricketer for Zimbabwe. Curran’s brothers are also well-known in cricket. Ben Curran is a popular batsman, while Sam Curran is a highly-rated all-rounder.
Tom Curran also replaced his brother Sam in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2021 because he was ruled out due to an injury. However, Sam Curran was among the top-value sales at the IPL Auction. In the podcast, Tom was asked about his brother. He answered,
“People will have a lot of opinions on a lot of things, to be honest. Sam deserves it. He has had a great few years, so he deserves all the accolades and awards and the pay cheques. I don’t think it is a comparison thing. Like I said I have had a break now, and I am looking forward to getting back playing now.
Bowling, Taking Wickets, and Death Overs
Tom Curran is quite popular for his wicket-taking bowling, especially in the death overs. He talked about this subject as,
“It is something I have done for years now, and it has not always gone amazingly. But that is the role, as bowling at the death is a hard job. But it is also one of the most valuable as a player. It is something I am constantly working on, and something I am looking forward to doing. I think wickets in any format are important because you will stop the runs that way. Sometimes it can be very hard to do that in T20 cricket. We are always talking as bowling groups of the best ways to take wickets. I am sure we will do the same here. I always look to take wickets, and sometimes that comes from being defensive, but we will have our plans in place.”
Expectations from DP World ILT20 and Desert Vipers
When asked about his Desert Vipers squad, Currans responded that he does not have many expectations as it is the first season of DP World ILT20. He spoke,
“It is the first one, so I don’t have many expectations. I think we have got a really strong side, and we all have high expectations. For the Desert Vipers, hopefully, we can start the tournament well, and to lift the trophy at the end is obviously the goal. And for me personally, coming back refreshed after a break, (I am keen to be) hitting the tournament hard.”
- The Climate Change Partner – 1.5 Degrees Sport
Lastly, Tom Curran was asked about the sponsor of Desert Vipers, 1.5 Degrees Sport. It is a climate-change partner of the franchise. The all-rounded replied with,
“It is massive, and links beautifully with my core beliefs as a human. It is very exciting, and looking forward to developing with the sponsors in that regard.”
Conclusion
Tom Curran, the amazing English all-rounder, talked about various subjects, including his brother, wicket-taking bowling, expectations from the first season of DP World ILT20, and his Desert Vipers squad. Fans are excited to see his performance in the upcoming league, which will take place from January 13, 2023, to February 12, 2023.