Curran to make Boxing Day Test debut

London : Surrey pace bowler Tom Curran will make his England Test debut against Australia on Boxing Day.

The 22-year-old replaces the injured Craig Overton for the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“He’s a feisty character and he gets the ball to move around a bit,” said England captain Joe Root.

“He’s always in the contest. At no point will he hide away from any challenge. If times become hard he will give it everything.”

The void left by Overton, who has a fractured rib, could have been filled by fellow fast bowlers Jake Ball or Mark Wood. There was also the option to hand a debut to Mason Crane, but that would have meant changing the balance of the attack.