Interesting things to know about Kevin Curran

Kevin Curran, a hard-hitting batsman and a bowler capable of hitting high speed. Curran was an integral part of Zimbabwe’s ODI, though he got a chance to play a handful of games. Curran was born, born September 7, 1959, was Zimbabwe’s finest all-rounders. His father, Kevin Patrick Curran, named him Kevin Malcolm Curran, so he was also famous as Kevin Curran Jr.

Apart from the fact that he shared his first name with his father, Curran Jr. shared his cricket passion. His father, Curran Sr. played First-Class cricket for Rhodesia. The whole Curran family was a lover of cricket. His cousin, Patrick James Curran, also played the First-Class match. Tom, Curran Jr’s sons, Ben and Sam, have also played domestic cricket, with Tom being the best known.

Curran got well regarded as an all-rounder in each sense. Though he was known to be a hard-hitting batsman and a fast bowler, he was also famous for his tremendous feats while fielding. In the words of his former captain Ducan Fetcher about his fielding, “Being a youngster, his great returns to the keeper were scrappy until it war run-out phase time, then the ball would be the one that was right above the stumps from an outfield, or a direct hit when closer in".

Fetcher got remembered as the mastermind of the success

Thought Fetcher was at the helm of Zimbabwe’s first great victory over Australia during the 1983 World Cup, Curran played a considerable role. Fetcher got remembered as the mastermind of the success with an unbeaten 69 and 4 for 42. He came to the crease at 94 for 5, Curran added 74 with Fetcher, Fetcher said only 27. With the ball, Curran took all the crucial wickets that include Allan Border for 17, effectively ending Australian’s hopes after Fetcher had ripped out the top order.

In the 1983 World Cup finals between India and Zimbabwe, known as a famous at Tunbridge Wells, Curran’s most nuanced performance sadly came in a heartbreaking loss. Peter Rawson and Curran reduced India to 9 for four and later 17 for 5. Zimbabwe’s hopes of an early finish evaporated when Kapil Dev came to the crease. Kapil’s unbeaten score of 175 took India to 266 scores for 8. Curran had then finished with 3 for 65, but his work was far from done. Coming at 113 for 6, Curran hit a frenetic 93-ball 73 and was ninth out of the score on 230. India eventually won by 31 runs. Curran had done what all he could, but Kapil’s genius helped India over the line.

After retiring from the First-Class cricket, Curran coached Namibia before coaching his native Zimbabwe from 2005-2007. He also coached the Zimbabwean Under-19 team during the 2010 World Cup. When he died, he was coaching Zimbabwean domestic side Mashonaland Eagles.

His sudden demise when he was 53 was a shock to all his cricket fans. He collapsed while jogging. The reason that has got to get told for his death was a mystery for a long time.

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