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By Stephan Shemilt
BBC Sport at Old Trafford
Sam Curran is a”game-changer”, said former England captain Alec Stewart following the all-rounder took three wickets on the second evening of the fifth Test against Australia at The Oval.
Since the tourists were dismissed by England for 225, curran, playing in his first Test of the series, supported Jofra Archer’s 6-62.
“When he gets into a rhythm, then swinging the ball either way , he can actually affect the game,” Stewart told Test Match Special.
“That was the best he’s bowled for England. He stuck to his lines and lengths very well, the finest he’s done for some time.”
Curran, 21, was named man of this show his first summer in international cricket.
His only previous Test this season came against Ireland, before the Ashes, after Ben Stokes was deemed unfit to bowl due to a shoulder injury and the Surrey man was remembered on his home floor.
He left a 15 but was superb bowling in comparison to Archer on Friday, at one stage.
“Sam’s batting was subdued yesterday and it showed a bit of nerves and also how difficult it is coming against this Australia speed attack was out of international cricket for a while,” added Stewart, Curran’s director of cricket at Surrey.
“Using the ballhe wants to take a wicket each ball and we keep telling him you can’t do so, you need to set the batsman up.
“That spell that he bowled with Jofra Archer was exceptional.”
Curran and Archer helped England take a direct of 69 runs, if they closed the next day on 9-0 one which has been extended to 78.
“We will need to bat as long and as large as possible since it is a fantastic wicket,” said Curran. “We need to try and bat them out of the match .”
Curran said his absence from the England side throughout the Ashes had been”bothersome”, but he was pleased to return on his home ground.
“To perform is really special and obtaining some wickets for the team is the most important matter,” he said.
“It’s really nice to be playing . I just had to wait my turn and it arrived.”
8,463 runs were scored by stewart in 133 Tests, and Curran joked that if he could imitate those featshe also could be honoured in similar fashion at The Oval.
“Stewie is just one of the great heroes,” said Curran. “I saw him this morning and had some banter about acquiring some gates named after me.
“It was all good fun. I’m nowhere near Stewie’s degree. Maybe 1 day”
Tense, belly-laugh amusing , mind-warpingly weird, and full of awwwwww
Analysis and opinion by the BBC’s cricket correspondent.

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