James Foster backs Sam Curran for all formats despite England snub

Dubai: Sam Curran’s name is missing from England’s white-ball squad, but his impact on the field is impossible to ignore. As the all-rounder drives Desert Vipers’ stunning DP World ILT20 Season 3 campaign, his omission from England’s tour of India and the upcoming Champions Trophy has raised eyebrows — including those of his coach, James Foster.

The white-ball specialist has been instrumental in Desert Vipers’ dominance this season, yet England opted to leave him out of their squad for the high-profile tournaments in India, Dubai and Pakistan. With England recently stumbling to a 4-1 T20I series loss against India, questions are being asked about whether they made the right call.

Foster surprised by Curran’s exclusion

“I don’t know the reasons why Sam isn’t part of England’s white-ball squad, but I was surprised. Initially, we thought we would only have him for a few games at the start of the tournament. So I was very surprised that he wasn’t part of that England side,” Foster, Head Coach of Desert Vipers, told Gulf News.

“Don’t get me wrong, England have some serious world-class players in their set-up. Unfortunately, Sammy missed out. For us, as a franchise and coaching group, we know what Sam brings on and off the pitch. He is a three-dimensional player, and it’s not just that — it’s his leadership, his character, and everything you want in a player. So we’re absolutely delighted to have him fully available for Desert Vipers.”

Curran focused on ILT20 success

Despite the setback, Curran remains unfazed and is taking the disappointment in his stride. He understands the ups and downs of professional cricket and is determined to work hard to regain his place in the England team.

“My main goal now is to try and win the ILT20 with Desert Vipers, and then, yeah, whatever happens, I’ll keep trying to score runs, take wickets, and win games for my team. And I know I can do that. I only look at the next game and I’m not worried about the future. That’s how I play my cricket,” the all-rounder told Gulf News.

Foster has no doubt that Curran will reclaim his spot in the England set-up.

“One hundred per cent, he can play in all formats,” the 44-year-old said.

Vipers in top form ahead of playoffs

Desert Vipers failed to reach the playoffs last season, but they have completely turned things around to finish at the top of the standings this year. They will meet Dubai Capitals in Qualifier 1 on Wednesday, a rematch of Monday’s inconsequential final league game at the Dubai International Cricket Stadium.

Foster believes the team’s quality has remained consistent, but key results didn’t go their way last season, causing them to miss the playoffs by just two points — four behind table-toppers MI Emirates.

“I didn’t think we were actually that far away. We lost two last-ball finishes, and if we had won those, we potentially could have finished in the top two. This is a very competitive tournament with six strong teams. And this year, I think each team has strengthened their squad, making the competition even tougher,” Foster added.

“The difference this season, I think, is just the clarity with how we’ve gone about our business. We’ve taken a strength-based approach — that’s been the message from myself and the coaching group to the players. It’s about giving them the confidence to go out there and play their game.”

‘We’re not done yet’

Despite their strong campaign so far, Foster knows that the playoffs are where the real challenge begins. A win against Dubai Capitals will take them straight to the final, while a loss would force them into a do-or-die clash in Qualifier 2.

“It’s really clicked so far. But the reality is, it all comes down to the Qualifier. We still need to focus on the simple things and execute them well. That’s something we’re keen on as a team, and hopefully, we can keep this momentum going,” he concluded.