Sam Curran reveals private chat with Brendon McCullum after England axing

England star all-rounder Sam Curran has suffered a major setback after it became clear that he does not fit into the current plans of head coach Brendon McCullum. Under McCullum’s aggressive “Bazball” approach, England have built a team focused on high-intent cricket, leaving players like Curran struggling to find a place in the setup.

However, he is not the only one facing this issue. A few days ago, both Liam Livingstone and Jonny Bairstow also raised concerns, pointing out that the England and Wales Cricket Board is not taking proper care of its players. The issue is not just related to performance, but also about the level of support and the environment that international players expect from the team management.

Is Brendon McCullum the reason behind Sam Curran’s fading future in England cricket?

Since taking over as head coach, Brendon McCullum has completely transformed England’s approach to cricket with his aggressive “Bazball” philosophy. The team shifted from a cautious style to a fearless, attacking mindset, focusing on scoring quickly and putting pressure back on the opposition.

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Under Brendon McCullum, England have adopted an ultra-aggressive batting approach, where the team management and captain have backed players to play freely without any fear of failure. This change has not only improved performances but has also made England one of the most exciting teams to watch in international cricket.

With McCullum’s new approach of fearless cricket, young and talented players like Sam Curran are facing major challenges, as they don’t fit the criteria the England team is now looking for. As a result, Curran has been out of the England squad for the past 13 months.

Would Sam Curran's approach be considered unlawful?

Looking at his career to understand what’s not working, Sam Curran directly approached England head coach Brendon McCullum to ask what he was doing wrong and what he needed to do to be part of the national team again.

In response, McCullum told him, “Go and score some runs.” This bold move by the England star all-rounder has been appreciated by several former cricketers, as it shows he now has a clear understanding of what is expected. However, it has also sparked a debate about coach-player interactions off the field, with some questioning the appropriateness of approaching a coach personally regarding selection.

On this Sam Curran said, "I guess it's just one of those things. I was out the team and just kind of asked what I needed to do,' Curran told Daily Mail Sport.

"Just had a little coffee with Baz and he just kind of said: mate, go score some runs and take some wickets. 'It was a nice, honest conversation, and when I did get back in, it was because I'd done exactly what he said. I look back on it as positive. I'm a very competitive guy and I kind of just tried my best."

Why Sam Curran Won’t Feature for Rajasthan Royals This Season

After his below-par performance for the England team in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, the star all-rounder Sam Curran has been out of action due to a groin injury. While he admitted it is not very serious, he explained that participating in the IPL could make it worse, making him unavailable for the Rajasthan Royals franchise for the upcoming edition.

"Scans showed some damage, which I obviously need to try to get sorted before coming back to playing. I am gutted that I can't go back to the IPL, but if I kept going, it'd probably just get even worse."

Also read: Jonny Bairstow blasts Brendon McCullum, Ben Stokes over Mark Wood’s injury struggles