Curran uses BBL to press World Cup hopes

English quick Tom Curran hopes more chances with the bat for the Sydney Sixers can help him add another string to his bow in his fight for a World Cup spot.

cricket

Tom Curran's batting may help his push for England T20 selction. (AAP)

England quick Tom Curran wants to use this summer's Big Bash League with the Sydney Sixers to press his national hopes for next year's World Cup, and not just with his bowling.

Curran, who has played 11 one-dayers for England since last September, became just the second player to take three wickets and hit a half-century in the same BBL match on Christmas Eve.

His 62 in the losing effort against the Thunder was his highest score in any level of elite cricket, but he's likely to get many more chances after batting at No.7 last week and with their top-order struggling for form.

The Sixers will look to bounce back against the Melbourne Stars on Thursday night, but could bring in another batsman after young spinner Lloyd Pope was overlooked from their 13-man squad.

Regardless, Curran said he hoped to present his all-round game again in the tournament as he fights to nail down a regular spot in England's first-choice side.

'"Now days you've got to be able to do more than just one thing," the right-arm quick said.

"To do all three (batting, bowling and fielding), it adds an extra string to the bow.

"In the England side we bat down to No.11 really, Chris Woakes bats No.9 sometimes and he's got a few first class hundreds.

"I'm working hard on the batting and definitely if I can get a few more performances in I'm sure it will help in some way, whether it be big or small."

Curran is one of seven Englishman playing in the first half of this summer's BBL, getting in as much short-form cricket ahead of next winter's one-day World Cup.

"It's obviously such a big comp and to be out here playing in the Big Bash is great preparation for the West Indies when I go in February," Curran said.

"And then obviously you can't hide from the World Cup, it's less than six months away. It's an exciting period."

Meanwhile Curran said it was unlikely the Sixers could try to exploit Peter Handscomb's technical woes from the India Test series when he returns for the Stars at the SCG.

Handscomb's unorthodox technique scored him just 68 runs in four innings against India before being dropped, but Curran said the T20 arena could present a different ball game.

"It's a completely different format," Curran said.

"We'll have our plans but I think it's hard to compare T20 cricket."


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Source: AAP



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