Ben Curran, the younger brother of England cricketers Sam and Tom Curran, marked a significant milestone by scoring a fifty on his Test debut for Zimbabwe. The 28-year-old left-hander displayed a remarkable performance on December 26 at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo during Zimbabwe’s first-ever Boxing Day Test.
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A Stellar Debut
Curran became the 17th Zimbabwean batter to post a fifty-plus score on Test debut. Opening the innings, he smashed 11 fours in an aggressive 74-ball knock of 68 before being dismissed by fellow debutant Allah Ghazanfar.
The last Zimbabwean to achieve a similar feat was Innocent Kaia, who scored a fifty at the same venue last year against the West Indies.
Curran’s Journey to Test Cricket
Ben Curran plays domestic cricket for the Mid West Rhinos in Zimbabwe and has steadily built a reputation in first-class cricket. Despite a challenging start to his international career during the ODI series against Afghanistan earlier this month—where he managed scores of 15, 0, and 2—Curran proved his mettle in the longest format with a confident and attacking display.
A Unique Legacy
Ben is the first Curran to represent Zimbabwe in Test cricket, adding another chapter to the family’s illustrious cricketing history. His late father, Kevin Curran, represented Zimbabwe in 11 ODIs but never played Test cricket. With Ben’s debut, the Curran family’s legacy now spans across two cricketing nations: Zimbabwe and England.
What’s Next for Curran?
With his impressive debut, Ben Curran has announced himself as a valuable addition to Zimbabwe’s Test team. Fans and analysts alike will watch closely as he continues to develop his international career and contribute to Zimbabwe’s cricketing resurgence.