Sam Curran earns maiden England Test call up as cover for Stokes

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Surrey allrounder Sam Curran has been drafted into England’s Test squad as cover for Ben Stokes who is suffering from a tight left hamstring.

Curran arrived in Leeds on Wednesday night and trained with the squad at Headingley on Thursday.

Stokes was at times England’s most threatening bowler in the first Test though he has struggled for batting form.

Curran took a ten wicket haul in his last first class match, an historic victory for Surrey over Yorkshire in the second week of May.

The left-handed Curran hasn’t had much batting to do for Surrey in the Royal London One Day Cup but he has the potential to be a top quality allrounder.

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Curran has hit ten first class fifties in 38 matches and has taken 104 wickets at 30.44.

Stokes is likely to take a last minute fitness test on Friday morning ahead of the start of the second Test against Pakistan.

An ECB update on his condition added: “He feels better this morning.

“He has dome some running at full intensity without issues, (but is) expected to have a fitness test in the morning.”

Pakistan lead the two Test series 1-0 after an emphatic nine wicket victory at Lord’s.

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