GEORGE DOBELL IN AUSTRALIA: Victory does not guarantee England a place in the semi-finals but, given their significant net run-rate lead over Australia, it may well prove enough. Whatever happens on Saturday, Curran is sure to be at the centre of it
Sam Curran doesn't look like a fast bowler. With his slight frame, his relative lack of height and a freshness of face which, you suspect, still results in requests for ID upon occasions in bars and restaurants, he might even pass for a sixth-former with his A-Levels ahead of him.
Yet here he is: fast emerging as the key man in England's T20 bowling attack. Again and again, he is the man his captain turns under pressure. He bowls in the powerplay, he bowls at the death and, while England have not confirmed it, you suspect he would be the one to bowl a super over if required.
Curran's record in this tournament to date is outstanding. Not only does he have the best strike-rate of anyone to bowl more than seven overs (he takes a wicket every 7.10 deliveries), he has the best average of anyone to bowl 10 overs (7.44) and the best figures (in terms of wickets) with his return of 5 for 10 against Afghanistan.
Despite bowling in the powerplay and at the death in Brisbane (he bowled the fifth, 13th, 18th and 20th overs), he was the only man in the match against New Zealand who delivered more than six balls and did not concede a boundary.
He also hit a six from one of the three balls he faced and took a nerveless catch. He is, basically, a captain's dream contributing in all facets of the game and usually in the toughest moments. He's probably been England's most valuable player in the World Cup so far.
Sam Curran was key in England's win over New Zealand (Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
There are several tangible qualities to Curran's game. For one thing, his control is excellent. Whether it's his quicker ball or his variations, he rarely misses his target. For another, he can generate swing – be it conventional or reverse – if any is available.
He's made an asset of his relative lack of height, too. His bouncer, in all its manifestations, tends to skid onto batters in a similar way to those of Neil Wagner. Combined with an array of variations which clearly prove hard to pick-up, it is desperately tough for batters to set themselves against him.
That package is made all the more valuable by an increase in pace since his return from a stress fracture. While he once appeared to have a threshold of around 80mph, he is now fairly regular in the mid-80s. Taking advantage of the large outfields in Australia and the surprisingly helpful surfaces which have allowed his cutters to grip, seven of his nine wickets have come to outfield catches.
But there's also something intangible. A love of the fray. A desire to be involved in the key moments. A level of self-belief that seems to block out doubt or nerves or tension. Indeed, that ability to keep his head when all about are losing theirs is, perhaps, his most valuable quality. Whether he feels the pressure or not, he gives every impression of loving every moment of it.
"I think you've got to try and enjoy it," Curran said after the game in Brisbane. "I probably wouldn't have enjoyed it if there were runs to defend, but I think you've got to just back yourself in those moments.
Sam Curran has taken on the role of bowling England's death overs in the absence of Reece Topley (Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)
"I know bowling at the death is a very tough thing to do but I'm really enjoying just contributing to the team. There will be days where guys have different roles and bowl at different phases but at the moment I'm just really enjoying it.
"Hopefully our games don't go to a super over. But yes, I'd put my hand up. You always back yourself in those situations but hopefully we'd win the game and it doesn't go to a super over."
Wednesday was a travel day for England, as they flew to Sydney. They resume training on Thursday morning and play Sri Lanka, who are led by former England head coach Chris Silverwood, at the SCG on Saturday. Victory does not absolutely guarantee them a place in the semi-final (almost certainly in Adelaide) but, given their significant net run-rate lead over Australia, it may well prove enough.
Whatever happens on Saturday, Curran is sure to be at the centre of it.
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