Words by Alex Smith, ECB Reporters Network
Scott’s better at football and batting, Brad’s better at swimming and Fantasy Premier League. But both Currie brothers are equally exceptional at cricket.
“We are two very different people both on and off the field,” says younger brother Scott. “Ultimately, what binds us is our competitiveness and our desire to win.
“But there's absolutely no jealousy or comparing figures or anything like that. It's just great to see him around the traps, doing his thing.”
The Curries have had two very different routes to professional cricket.
Right-arm fast-bowling all-rounder Scott, 22, stayed at state school and came through the Hampshire pathways and Academy to reach the first team.
Left-arm quick Brad, 24, moved to the private Millfield School for Sixth Form and took the long route through trials and Second XI at Somerset, Surrey, Warwickshire to finally end up starring at Sussex.
Scott said: “I was quite lucky that I was in a state school and they let me go and train with Hampshire. I was down at the The Ageas Bowl every winter for three, four times a week learning and improving.
“As a result, I was around with Hampshire and you make those natural progressions. You play Academy cricket on a Saturday then you get to go to the second team and eventually you work your way up into the first team.
“Bradley took the different route at a private school and they're quite controlling in how they operate. They're not always as willing to let lads go to academies to train. It was definitely harder for him to manufacture the opportunity.
“My admiration for his resilience and determination to keep going when he probably thought he may never get a fair crack grows each day.
“To me, he acts as a benchmark for hard work and commitment. People probably won't fully understand the difficulties he faced just to get a go. To see him doing what he's doing now is fantastic.”
Scott hasn’t had the chance to play professional cricket with his brother, despite plenty of backyard tussles, but is dreaming of joining him at the T20 World Cup next year.
Brad has already played six times for Scotland and Scott is aiming to break into the Saltires set-up.
“I’m obviously eligible and I'm hoping in the near future myself and Bradley are out there wearing Scotland shirts,” said Scott.
“It is slightly difficult to play for them in the summer because I’m paid by Hampshire but if opportunities manufacture themselves in the winter that can only be a good thing.
“Any international cricket playing on the world stage will be a positive. It is certainly a big aim of mine in the foreseeable future.”
Despite being the younger sibling in his family, Scott is playing big brother at Hampshire in the Metro Bank One-Day Cup – with fast bowling partners Eddie Jack and Dom Kelly only 17.
Scott presented the highly promising Jack his cap before the opening round victory against Middlesex before standing and mid on and mid off to the duo to help them through their spells.
“It changes quickly,” joked Scott, who took 20 wickets in last season’s competition. “I'm only 15 games into List A cricket and I’m already handing out caps!
“Having played a little bit of white-ball cricket you've got that experience and it seems only right that you act as that person to offer some advice to younger lads.
“I obviously had it when I was coming into the side, the 50-over side with Kyle Abbott and Ian Holland.
“It’s about knowing when to say something or knowing when to keep quiet. I think that's a skill in itself.
“You don't want to be that guy who's all over them like a rash because learning on your own is a massive part of development. But in my experience, an occasional quiet word and keeping it brief and simple never goes amiss.
“We probably forget that they are only 17 and it must be incredibly daunting to be out there on your own. So if you are clear at the top of your mark that prevents a scrambled brain.
“We're not going to execute every time, we all get it wrong a lot, but as my old man would always say: ‘having a plan is better than no plan’.”
Currie, Kelly, Jack, Brad Wheal, John Turner and Jack Campbell are the products of development gurus Charlie Freeston and James Tomlinson’s concerted effort to correct Hampshire’s poor historic record at producing fast bowlers.
With Kyle Abbott, Mohammad Abbas, Keith Barker and Chris Wood heading towards the autumn of their careers, the experiences the young crop are getting now will be invaluable when the inevitable happens.
“I think this period now is probably acting as a little bit of succession planning for the club,” explained Currie, who took 18 wickets in last season’s competition.
“Abbo, Mo, Keith and Woody have been three extraordinary servants to the club, and we probably won't truly appreciate them till they're gone. But ultimately that day will come and it's important that the club have a battery of seamers capable of trying to replace them.
“The One Day Cup is probably the best thing to ever happen for lads under 23 because it gives you that exposure and the opportunity to play.
“There's no better education than playing regular first-team cricket and we’ve seen with John this year that the best will get opportunities.”
