IND vs ENG: How Allan Lamb guided electric Sam Curran

Former England captain and now the director of cricket at Surrey, Alec Stewart described Sam Curran as the best cricketer he had ever seen at 17. The statement might seem a bit far fetched, but not according to former England player Allan Lamb. Lamb has known the Curran family even before Sam was born and played a pivotal role in guiding Sam into the cricketing world.

"He has always been a confident kid since he was four or five. He could play tennis left-handed or right-handed. He could naturally pick up any ball sport. A lot of credit should go to his father because he practised very hard with his kids in their backyards," Lamb told mid-day. Curran's father, Kevin played 11 Tests for Zimbabwe, but he tragically passed away when Sam was only 13. Lamb, who had played with Sam's father, played a crucial role in luring them to Wellington College in England. "His brother [Tom] was at Wellington College. I told their mother that Sam has to come as well, but she was a working-mother and didn't have the money.

England pacer Sam Curran appeals on Day Two of the first Test yesterday. Pic/Bipin Patel

"So, I went to the college and told them I have two extremely talented cricketers, Sam and Ben. I explained their background and they trusted me and accepted them. Since then, they keep asking me if there are more boys like them," he said. Curran was picked up by Surrey at 17, making him the second youngest debutant. He went on to take eight wickets in the match and caused mayhem with his later in-swingers. Curran took three wickets in quick succession yesterday as India suffered a dramatic top-order collapse in the first Test. Curran, in only his second Test, dismissed Murali Vijay, KL Rahul and Shikhar Dhawan in an inspired spell.

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