Tom Curran takes break from red-ball cricket, cites mental health as reason

England's fast-bowling all-rounder, Tom Curran, has taken an indefinite break from red-ball cricket to concentrate on his physical and mental health. However, the 27-year-old will continue to play white-ball cricket for Surrey and franchises across the globe.

Curran, who has played two Test matches, last played a First-Class game last year during the County Championship Division One.  

"The last couple of years have not been easy for me. I have had a lot of time and this isn't a decision that I've taken lightly," Curran said. 

"Some choices in life I don't think you will ever be 100% sure and this is definitely one of those. But where I find myself at this exact moment, I feel like it is the right decision for my body and for my mental health.

During the 2018-21 period, the Surrey man had been a regular part of England's white-ball teams. During the same time, he also earned IPL contracts, playing for Rajasthan in 2018 & 2020 and the 2021 season for Delhi Capitals. 

However, lack of form and injuries pushed him behind in the race for a seat in the English dressing room. 

At the moment, Curran plays for Desert Vipers in UAE's International T20, where he has been shilly shally in form.

"I'm definitely not ruling out playing red-ball cricket again in the future, and I feel like I have unfinished business in this format for both Surrey and England. But until I can feel 100% committed and confident in my body to be performing day in and day out for Surrey in the County Championship, I feel that putting all my time and focus into on our Vitality Blast campaign this year is the right thing to do," the T20 specialist cited.

Currently serving as a T20 agent, the South Africa-born after his time at ILT20 will next be in the T20 Blast 2023 for Surrey.

Curran is not the first cricketer of his time who has decided to take time off cricket for a while. Players such as Virat Kohli, Meg Lanning, Glenn Maxwell, Nat Sciver, Shakib Al Hasan, et al have taken definate breaks from competetive cricket to work on their mental or physical well-being.

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