For nearly seven years, the identity of England’s next white-ball captain seemed all but assured. Jos Buttler had dutifully served as Eoin Morgan’s deputy between 2015 and 2022, stepping in for Morgan in nine ODIs and five T20Is when needed. When Morgan announced his retirement last year, Buttler appeared to be the natural successor, ready to take the reins of leadership.
However, the cricketing landscape is never static, and now there is a cloud of uncertainty hovering over the white-ball captaincy for England. While Jos Buttler remains a pivotal figure in the limited-overs format and is still relatively young at 32, there is growing speculation about who could fill the role of vice-captain and potentially step into the captaincy in the future.
Moeen Ali currently serves as Buttler’s vice-captain and has excelled in this role. He led England to a 4-3 T20I series victory in Pakistan last year and has made several noteworthy contributions to the team’s success in Australia. However, Moeen is 36 years old and is unlikely to continue playing ODIs beyond November. With the 2024 T20 World Cup on the horizon, it appears that Moeen’s international career in the shorter formats is drawing to a close.
This creates an interesting conundrum for English cricket. While Buttler is widely expected to captain England into the 50-over World Cup in 2027, there may soon be a vacancy for the white-ball vice-captaincy, especially in the shorter formats. In the short term, England faces a three-match ODI series against Ireland in September, a series that is likely to feature a stand-in captain as the World Cup squad will be rested. Looking further ahead, there is no standout candidate in the immediate pipeline to succeed Buttler.
Enter Sam Curran? It might seem like a left-field suggestion, but at 25, Curran is England’s youngest regular player in the white-ball formats. While his public persona may not scream “future captain,” those who have closely observed his cricketing intelligence and leadership qualities believe otherwise. Quietly and without fanfare, Curran has started to look like a viable candidate to eventually take over the mantle from Buttler.
Curran’s experience as a captain at the senior level is admittedly limited. He has led in just six games, with his most notable stint being his role as captain of the Punjab Kings in this year’s IPL. When asked about his IPL captaincy, Curran admitted that it had come as “a big surprise” when Trevor Bayliss asked him to stand in as captain. However, he embraced the challenge and led the Kings to two wins out of three, including victories over strong teams like the Lucknow Super Giants and the Mumbai Indians. Even when Chris Jordan, Surrey’s regular T20 captain, became available, Curran continued to lead for another three games at the start of the Vitality Blast.
Curran’s leadership responsibilities expanded further in The Hundred, where Tom Moody, the head coach of Oval Invincibles, encouraged him to play a more active role in leadership discussions. This move was likely aimed at easing the leadership burden on Sam Billings, one of the two players in The Hundred, along with Buttler, who captains while keeping wicket. Alongside senior player Jason Roy, Curran participated in pre-match strategy meetings, making him an integral part of the Invincibles’ leadership group.
On the field, Curran often fields at mid-on or mid-off during the Powerplay, where he returns the ball to the bowler while offering words of encouragement or tactical advice. He also collaborates with Billings on decisions related to reviews and ensures that his teammates maintain the required over-rate during end-changes.
Curran’s approach to the game is notable. He describes himself as “not a massive planner” and emphasizes that he is “a big reaction person.” Rather than immersing himself in video analysis and detailed planning, he prefers to arrive on the match day with an open mind, ready to adapt to the conditions and dimensions of the game. While modern cricket provides access to extensive data and analysis, Curran’s ability to react to what’s in front of him has served him well.
Analysts have praised Curran’s reading of the game, noting that it aligns with their insights and often complements the team’s strategy. His adaptability is not limited to leadership; it is evident in his bowling as well. Perhaps the most striking example was his performance at the 2022 T20 World Cup, where he was named Player of the Tournament and played a pivotal role in England’s triumph. In the final, he demonstrated shrewd bowling to the vast square boundaries of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, capturing three crucial wickets for just 12 runs.
Curran saysWe are very lucky as players in this day and age.We’ve got great analysts who work with us who can show you anything you want: videos, trends, match-ups and all those types of things. But for me personally, that might just confuse the game a little bit. I try to react to what’s in front of me.
One significant challenge that Curran may face in his pursuit of the vice-captaincy or even the captaincy is the demanding workload of modern international cricketers. While England has had bowlers and all-rounders serve as ODI captains in the past, it’s important to note that this occurred in a different era of cricket. Today’s cricketers have to juggle multiple formats and various franchise leagues around the world. Curran himself has been in high demand in franchise leagues, with his record-breaking purchase by the Punjab Kings in the IPL last year and his retention by MI Cape Town in the SA20.
As England navigates the changing landscape of cricket and leadership, Curran’s performance in the upcoming matches, including the Hundred final, could provide further evidence of his suitability for leadership roles. While the spotlight may shine on Sam Billings for his leadership with the Invincibles, Curran’s emergence as a potential long-term captaincy option for limited-overs cricket should not be underestimated.
In conclusion, the question of who will fill England’s white-ball captaincy roles in the post-Morgan era remains open. While Jos Buttler is a strong candidate for the captaincy, the role of vice-captain, especially in the shorter formats, is less clear. Sam Curran, despite not conforming to the traditional captaincy archetype, presents a compelling case. His cricketing intelligence, adaptability, and leadership potential make him a contender worth watching. The future of English cricket leadership may indeed rest in his capable hands.
Sam Curran’s Potential as England’s White-Ball Captain: Key Points
- Jos Buttler’s vice-captaincy role in white-ball cricket has been clear for years, but with his potential captaincy in ODIs, there may be an opening for the vice-captaincy in the shorter formats.
- Moeen Ali, the current vice-captain, is 36 and unlikely to continue playing ODIs beyond November, creating uncertainty about his role.
- Sam Curran, at 25, is England’s youngest regular white-ball player and is emerging as a potential leadership candidate.
- Curran’s leadership experience includes captaining Punjab Kings in the IPL and taking on leadership responsibilities in The Hundred.
- He is praised for his cricketing intelligence, adaptability, and ability to react to in-game situations.
- While not a meticulous planner, Curran’s approach aligns with analysts’ insights and complements the team’s strategy.
- The modern cricket landscape’s demanding workload poses a challenge, given Curran’s involvement in franchise leagues.
- His performance in upcoming matches, including the Hundred final, may further highlight his suitability for leadership roles.
- Sam Curran could be a valuable asset for England’s white-ball captaincy in the post-Morgan era.
