Curran impresses but goes wicketless

Australia

England debutant Tom Curran won over a number of former players with his effort on day one of the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne.

Curran ended the day wicketless having had David Warner caught on 99 only to have the dismissal reversed when replays showed he had overstepped.

The young Surrey quick was gutted to miss out on a huge first scalp but chose to take the positives from his first day of Test cricket.

Curran said: “It was horrible, the worst feeling I’ve had, but looking at the positives, I get to get my first wicket twice.”

Like most of the England attack Curran kept things tight on a pitch that offered little assistance for the bowlers.

His discipline and attitude impressed Australia legend Glenn McGrath.

Speaking on BBC’s Test Match Special, McGrath said: “Curran has good energy. As a young guy in his first Test you want to see that anyway but he bowls good areas and the ball skids on.

“He will have to do little bit in the air and have good control but he is bowling well here.”

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Taking a wicket off a no-ball is difficult for any bowler to handle and Curran’s plight left veteran quick Jimmy Anderson feeling for him.

Anderson said: “I’m gutted for him. It was hard to watch, really, seeing the elation in his face and then watch it drain from his face a few seconds later when the big screen came up. It’s heartbreaking but one of things you learn the hard way, on Boxing Day at the MCG.”

Curran appears to have inherited the fighting spirit of his father Kevin who was an allrounder who turned out for Zimbabwe and was known to punch above his weight.

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