Sam Curran eyeing key role for England at T20 World Cup after player-of-the-tournament display during 2022 win

Sam Curran top-scored with 58 as England completed 3-0 sweep of Sri Lanka ahead of T20 World Cup; all-rounder now key man again for his country after being overlooked when Brendon McCullum first became white-ball coach; England's T20 World Cup opener vs Nepal on Sunday, live on Sky Sports

Tuesday 3 February 2026 19:28, UK

Sam Curran is dreaming of a 2022 repeat as England look to win a second T20 World Cup in three events.

Curran was player of the tournament when England triumphed in Australia four years ago, taking 13 wickets in total, including three in the victory over Pakistan in the final.

The all-rounder was axed from the white-ball set-up when Brendon McCullum took over as head coach in early 2025 but earned a summer recall after impressing for Surrey in county cricket and Oval Invincibles in The Hundred, as well as in other franchise leagues.

Curran top-scored with 58 from 48 balls from the No 6 spot on Tuesday as England clinched a 3-0 T20I sweep in Sri Lanka, a morale-boosting result ahead of their T20 World Cup opener against Nepal on Sunday, live on Sky Sports from 9.30am.

The 27-year-old, who also took a hat-trick in the first T20 versus Sri Lanka, said: "Whenever the team needs me, whatever position that is in, I'm hoping I can perform throughout this World Cup and hopefully be sitting here in similar scenes to 2022.

"It's great to be back playing for England and I take massive confidence from this. It's a very exciting time for every player going into the World Cup.

"I know my role with the ball is going to be quite flexible and I'm pretty happy with that. I'm just really pleased to get some runs as well, and get this series win."

Curran lauds spinners after 'amazing achievement'

Curran's second T20 international half-century came after England had slipped to 60-6, with his efforts swelling the score to 128-9 before the tourists recorded their lowest successful defence in T20 cricket by rolling Sri Lankan for 116 in 19.3 overs.

Part-time spinners Jacob Bethell (4-11) - who picked up three of his wickets in one over - and Will Jacks (3-14) shredded Sri Lanka, with senior slow bowlers Liam Dawson (1-25) and Adil Rashid (1-25) also delivering four overs.

Left-arm seamer Curran added: "To win away from home 3-0, and with the lowest score we've defended as well, is pretty cool to say.

"I think our spinners have bowled well throughout. We know Adil's our main strike bowler alongside Dawson [but] you also see how Jacksy and Bethell are bowling exceptionally well.

"I was loving it. I was standing on the boundary, the ball was turning massively, and the required run-rate was going up.

"There were lots of missed chances and a lot of good bowling so I think the spinners can take great confidence from that.

"To defend 130 is an amazing achievement."

England, who have stretched their winning streak in T20 internationals against Sri Lanka to 11 matches, will also play West Indies (February 11), Scotland (February 14) and debutants Italy (February 16) at the World Cup following their opener against Nepal.