Sam Curran says he is ready to replace Ben Stokes in Tests

England all-rounder Sam Curran has expressed his willingness to step into the significant void left by the international retirement of former captain Ben Stokes, though he stressed he is not putting undue pressure on himself for a Test recall. Stokes announced his retirement during the fourth day of the third Test against New Zealand at Trent Bridge, a match England lost to suffer a 2-1 series defeat. His departure leaves the team needing both a new captain and a player to fill his crucial role as a fast-bowling all-rounder ahead of their next Test series against Pakistan in August.

Curran, 28, last played a Test in 2021 and has since been a white-ball specialist for England. Speaking to reporters on Friday, he acknowledged the challenge of replacing a player of Stokes's stature but said he would embrace the opportunity if selected. "Stokesy's going to be a big gap to fill for whoever takes that role but, yeah, I love playing for England," Curran said. He added that while there is considerable speculation, his immediate focus is on the ongoing T20 series against India. "I don't want to put pressure on myself, but I'm a competitive person... I'll do my best whenever I can."