Sam Curran Returns as Ben Duckett Takes a Break: Updates to England T20I Squad

England has brought back all-rounder Sam Curran to their T20I squad for matches against South Africa and Ireland, while giving Ben Duckett a break. This is Curran’s first call-back to an England white-ball team under Brendon McCullum, following a series defeat in ODIs to South Africa.

Curran, 27, who was the Player of the Tournament in England’s previous ICC white-ball victory, had fallen out of favor with selectors but has now regained his spot based on performance. He scored 365 runs and claimed 21 wickets in 15 matches of the current T20 Blast and previously contributed significantly to Oval Invincibles’ success in The Hundred.

Curran, last seen playing for England in their November 2024 tour of the West Indies, is expected to strengthen England’s bowling department, especially after part-timers Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks were targeted by South Africa in the ODIs.

Concurrently, selectors have decided to rest Duckett ahead of England’s tours to New Zealand and Australia. Duckett, 30, had a successful five-Test series against India scoring 462 runs but has recently struggled, surpassing 20 only once in his last ten innings (8 from The Hundred and 2 from ODIs against South Africa).

Fast bowler Matthew Potts has also been removed from the Ireland T20Is to give him the opportunity to compete in the County Championship and vie for selection to the Ashes squad, especially with Jamie Overton’s recent decision to step back from red-ball cricket.

England T20I squads:

vs South Africa: Harry Brook (c), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Luke Wood.

vs Ireland: Jacob Bethell (c), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Banton, Jos Buttler, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Luke Wood, Jordan Cox, Sonny Baker, Tom Hartley.