Tom Curran seeks fresh start with Melbourne Stars after last BBL's umpire controversy

England's bowling allrounder Tom Curran is looking for a fresh start in the upcoming Big Bash League (BBL) season. Curran is the third-highest wicket-taker among overseas bowlers in BBL history and has had a long association with the BBL team Sydney Sixers.

However, last year, Tom Curran was involved in an unwanted controversy that saw him serve a four-match ban midway through the tournament. Curran was accused to be running dangerously towards the fourth umpire Muhammad Qureshi during the warm-ups ahead of the Sydney Sixers' match against Hobart Hurricanes.

The right-arm seamer had a good day as he picked up 3-19 in the match but was banned after the match. After the ban, he only appeared in two more matches in the tournament before suffering a knee injury that brought curtains to his BBL campaign last season. Although his team Sydney Sixers appealed against the ban, but turned out to be an unsuccessful one.

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Tom Curran seeks a fresh start with the Melbourne Stars

Tom Curran will be playing for Melbourne Stars in the BBL 2024-25 season. He signed a two-year deal with the Melbourne Stars and will be available for the whole tournament.

The Sixers are believed to be looking for overseas options ahead of the draft on September 1. With left-arm spinner Steve O'Keefe having retired, the Sixers are desperately looking for a quality spinner who can fill his place.

While speaking to ESPNCricinfo, Curran spoke about the last year's incident and feels that it didn't end on a perfect note. However, he hailed the Sixers management for supporting him in the case.

"Obviously, the way that whole situation panned out last year wasn't how anyone wanted it to happen. I don't feel like it was an issue with the Sixers. We fought the case together and they backed me which I really appreciated. Whenever I represented the Sixers I felt like I did them proud, not just on the field, felt like I gave it my all, immersed myself in the culture and made some amazing friends," Curran said.

"It just felt [like] the right decision" - Tom Curran on the change of BBL team

Curran further mentioned that he understands the situation of the Sixers and feels it is the right decision to change the team now.

"I got a decent idea that they were looking at other [overseas] options and they couldn't commit at the same sort of [level] that the Stars were showing. It just felt [like] the right decision, a good time for a change. And with the multi-year contracts, I feel like a person who wants to be loyal to teams, you don't want to be chopping and changing."

"Absolutely it didn't end the way I wanted it to...but the decisions that were made and the way it panned out was not anything to do with the people I actually dealt with and where my loyalties were," Curran added.

Tom Curran's record in BBL

Tom Curran played for four seasons for the Sydney Sixers. In BBL, he has picked up 51 wickets in 36 matches at an average of 19.76 and an economy rate of 8.25.

The 29-year-old is currently playing in The Hundred for Oval Invincibles. The allrounder has played white-ball cricket for England but is running out of the team for quite some time now.