Improving newcomer Curran is delighted to learn off old masters

Curran was handed new-ball duties in England’s first Test victory over Sri Lanka in Galle, partnering Anderson as Broad was dropped for just the second time in a decade.

The 20-year-old’s superior batting, and his unique offering as a left-armer, ultimately proved a greater pull than Broad’s 433 Test wickets and saw him part the most prolific seam partnership in Test history, at least temporarily.

Curran, who was only nine years old when Anderson and Broad played the first of their 111 Tests together, said: “It’s been very surreal these past few months playing with these guys. I’m so used to being on the sofa at home and watching them operate on the big screen.

“They have played so much cricket together. I’m learning so much from them.

“Even though Broady didn’t play, he was always coming out and giving me a few tips, and Jimmy has played so much in the sub-continent.

“It is great to have these guys helping me especially with my bowling in terms of what areas to bowl, reverse swing, all these type of things. I’m trying to learn day by day and thankfully it is going OK.”

‘OK’ does not quite do justice to Curran’s early experiences on the big stage. As well as his man-of-the-series honours against India in the summer, he has now tasted victory in all six of his Test appearances.

He has some way to go before reaching the top of the tree – Tim Bresnan holds the England record with 13 on the bounce – but his canny combination of left-arm swing bowling and punchy batting in the lower middle order has proved well suited to the highest level.

“It has been mentioned, but there’s a long way to go,” he said of Bresnan’s mark.

“It’s a good start but I don’t want to look too far ahead... I don’t want to say too much because I might jinx it.”

As it stands, Curran can not even be fully certain he will play in the second Test in Kandy on Wednesday.

The old adage of never changing a winning side could be binned, with Yorkshire’s Jonny Bairstow likely to be fit again after ankle trouble and Broad hoping for a recall on a Pallekele pitch which is expected to be more suited to his style than Galle.

Curran only bowled 11 overs last week due to the dominance of spin but his first-innings 48 was vital in setting up the game for England. Looking on as captain Joe Root, head coach Trevor Bayliss and national selector Ed Smith spoke to the coaching staff at the team hotel, Curran added: “There’s a selection meeting going on over there.

“There’s going to be a few sleepless nights because someone is going to be disappointed on Wednesday morning, but that’s a great place to be.”

Ollie Pope will leave England’s tour of Sri Lanka to join the England Lions squad in the United Arab Emirates.

The Surrey batsman was not selected for the series opener and was unlikely to be required for the remaining games in Kandy and Colombo.

As such, the England management have decided the 20-year-old will be better served by linking up with the Lions ahead of their four-day match against Pakistan A in Abu Dhabi. He will stay on for the five 50-over games two Twenty20s. Pope’s departure leaves Kent’s Joe Denly as the spare batsman on tour.

“It is important that Ollie is playing and the selection panel felt that to aid his development the best course of action is for to him to go and play for the Lions in a competitive series against Pakistan A,” said Bayliss

“Ollie needs some game time before the West Indies Test tour early next year and will get more out of playing competitively for the Lions rather than spending the next three weeks in Sri Lanka on the sidelines. He will get the opportunity of playing up to eight matches across all formats in the UAE.”

The entire England party congregated at their Kandy hotel to mark Armistice Day, observing a two-minute silence.

Mominul Haque and Mushfiqur Rahim both made centuries as Bangladesh ended the opening day of their second Test against Zimbabwe on 303-5.

Mominul took the attack to Zimbabwe after the hosts lost their first three wickets for 26, reaching 161 before he was caught by Brian Chari off Tendai Chatara. Mushfiqur, unbeaten on 111, and shared in a fourth-wicket partnership of 266 with Mominul to put Bangladesh in control at the National Stadium in Dhaka.

Moninul’s departure late in the day was quickly followed by the dismissal of Taijul Islam, caught behind by Regis Chakabva off Kyle Jarvis, who took three wickets for 48.