England all-rounder Sam Curran has been sidelined for the remainder of the summer season due to a recurring groin injury. Surrey confirmed that the 28-year-old has undergone medical assessment and is scheduled to undergo surgery this Friday, August 21. This procedure marks a significant setback for the cricketer, who has been attempting to secure a return to the Test arena, a format he has not played since 2021.
Following the retirement of Ben Stokes, selectors had identified Curran as a key candidate to provide “a certain balance” to the Joe Root-led side. Selector Marcus North previously noted that while the team values Curran highly as a future all-rounder, it would be “unfair to put him into these first two Tests” given his recent workload and physical condition. North had expressed hope that medical staff could rehabilitate him in time for the third Test, but this latest development effectively ends those plans.
Curran’s injury history has been a point of contention throughout the year. He previously missed the 2026 IPL season due to the same groin issue, which he admitted in March had been “battling with a little” before gradually deteriorating. During the IPL, Rajasthan Royals director of cricket Kumar Sangakkara publicly questioned Curran’s absence from the tournament, describing it as “disappointing” to see the player participating in matches for Surrey despite being ruled out of the league with the injury.
Most recently, Curran featured in The Hundred as captain of MI London and participated in the home ODI series against India. His absence from the squad for the resumption of the County Championship on Thursday, August 20, coincides with the unavailability of Will Jacks. Jacks is currently sidelined while recovering from an operation to remove his appendix. Team management will monitor his progress to determine his availability for the upcoming Sri Lanka series in September.
Surrey, currently sitting seventh in the Division One County Championship standings, faces a depleted roster. The club had already brought in Mahipal Lomror to cover for the absences of Jacks and Dan Lawrence, a move that has become even more critical following the news regarding Curran. The report also notes that “He’s someone that we really value highly, and we see playing a role in the future for us as an allrounder.
