Hopes for the return of England star Sam Curran to the Test cricket squad have taken a serious blow. Although the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) was preparing to bring him back after Ben Stokes retired, a groin injury necessitated emergency surgery, ending his current season and closing the door to participation in the ongoing series against Pakistan.
Sam Curran is part of the 'Rajasthan Royals' team in the IPL. Young batter Vaibhav Suryavanshi also plays for this team. Notably, Curran could not play in last season's IPL due to the same groin injury. The 28-year-old last played for England in a Test match in 2021; since then, he remained in the ODI and T20 squads but was not included in the Test team.
Following Stokes' departure, England required a player capable of combining attacking skills with fast bowling. This is why Curran re-entered the selectors' plans. England's national selector Marcus North reported that Sam Curran was on the list of candidates for the current series against Pakistan. England planned to bring him back for the third Test match in September. Initially, it was assumed that the issue could be managed during The Hundred 2026, despite the injury, but subsequent medical examinations changed the plan, making surgery necessary.
Curran will now be unable to participate in the remaining matches of the current season, nor will he be available for the white-ball series against Sri Lanka in September. After the operation, he faces a long recovery process, and there is currently no exact date for his return to the field. Curran's injury affects more than just one player; following Ben Stokes' exit, England is seeking balance in its Test lineup. Stokes' presence provided the team with a strong attacking option combined with an extra fast bowler.
Sam Curran was one of the natural contenders to fill this vacancy. His injury deprived England of a genuine all-rounder capable of bowling spin (seam bowling) in the match at Headingley against Pakistan. Because of this, the selectors did not include the main spinner in the starting XI, instead giving Dan Lawrence responsibility for partial spin at number six.
It should be noted that another all-rounder option, Will Jacks, is also currently unavailable. Jacks recently underwent an appendectomy, preventing him from participating in the County Championship match against Nottinghamshire and excluding him from the current Test series. However, hopes remain for Jacks: medical staff are monitoring his recovery, and England expects him to be ready for the white-ball series against Sri Lanka in September.