Tom Curran has revealed he is working on mastering new deliveries as he prepares for England鈥檚 attempt to clinch the one-day series against New Zealand.
The Three Lions head into the fourth ODI in Dunedin on Wednesday with a 2-1 series lead after Curran and Chris Woakes held their nerve with the ball in a dramatic finish in Wellington on Sunday.
Curran, 22, went for just seven runs in the 49th over of the match and the seamer claims he has more slower ball variations up his sleeve as he targets a place in England鈥檚 side for the World Cup in 2019.
鈥淵ou have time in training to get a feel for all these different slower balls 鈥� and if you don鈥檛 try them, you鈥檙e not going to learn,鈥� Curran said.听
鈥淚t鈥檚 a gut instinct, and out there I make a decision and commit to it.
"I鈥檓 practising all the time, trying these new ones. There鈥檚 obviously the knuckle ball, and there鈥檚 other slower balls that are coming out.
鈥淚n games at the moment, I鈥檓 just using the two. But there鈥檒l be a couple more interesting ones coming out for the season 鈥� a work in progress.
鈥淚 think you鈥檝e just got to try things. A couple of years ago I just started practising different types of slower balls from the back of the hand, and they seemed to work.
鈥淎 combination of that and the off-cutter seems to be coming off.鈥�
After conceding just 31 runs in his final four overs, Curran responded to the nod from captain Eoin Morgan at the end of New Zealand鈥檚 innings in Wellington, at a time when Mark Wood or Ben Stokes also had overs left in hand.
The Surrey man, who has been given an extended run in the side on this tour due to Liam Plunkett鈥檚 hamstring strain, was delighted to contribute to the victory and now hopes to push his longer-term credentials for the white-ball side.
鈥淕etting over the line with the win on Sunday was very satisfying,鈥� Curran added.
鈥淚鈥檝e done it a lot of times in training and I鈥檝e had time to implement it in games at Surrey and a few games for England, so it鈥檚 just about going out there and backing myself.
鈥淲hen it comes off because of the hours you put in practising, it鈥檚 very satisfying.
鈥淸The World Cup] is 15 months away, so I鈥檒l finish this tour, go back, do my thing for Surrey and hope to give Morgs a tough selection problem.听
鈥淭hat鈥檚 exciting 鈥� it鈥檚 a great place to be in.
鈥淚t鈥檚 about me putting my hand up and performing when I do get given a chance.鈥�
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