Mike Atherton says Sam Curran "justified his selection" with pivotal day two wickets

The Surrey seamer, who took the key dismissals of Kane Williamson and Tom Latham overnight, has struggled to maintain a place in the Test side since his debut in 2018

Mike Atherton has declared his support for Sam Curran after the England allrounder claimed two key New Zealand wickets during the second day of the winter Test campaign.

Despite being named player of the series as England claimed a 4-1 home victory over India the previous year, Curran figured in only the first and last Tests of the 2019 summer, claiming six wickets at an average of 16.00.

However, after the Surrey seamer was picked ahead of Chris Woakes for the opening match in Mount Maunganui, Atherton said that Curran's first-innings scalps of Blackcaps' opener Tom Latham and captain Kane Williamson have demonstrated that selectors made the right move.

"Sam Curran's justified his selection," Atherton told Sky Sports. "It was an up and down day for him – he got a first-baller from Tim Southee, then he got a wicket with the new ball and, crucially for him and England, the wicket of Kane Williamson with the old ball.

"That was the selection dilemma for England before the game: should they go with Curran or should they go with Woakes? Will Curran give you enough?

"He's certainly shown today that he's given England plenty with that wicket. Not all wickets are of equal value in cricket."

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After England slipped to 353 all out from their overnight tally of 241 for 4, left-armer Curran finished day two the pick of England's bowlers, returning figures of 2-for-28 from 10 overs.

Jack Leach and Ben Stokes cleared up the remainder of the New Zealand top order with the wickets of Jeet Raval and Ross Taylor respectively, leaving New Zealand four down and still trailing by 209 at the close of play.

Opening bowlers Stuart Broad and Jofra Archer went wicketless as they shared 24 of England's 51 overs, but Atherton went on to say that he still believes they can make an impact as the Bay Oval's inaugural Test match continues.

"It's just starting to go a little bit up and down. I don't think it's ever going to be a minefield, this pitch," Atherton said.

"With someone like Archer who can send it down at the pace he can, that will accentuate any unevenness of bounce there is and getting a first-innings lead will be vital.

"But he clatters so many top-order batsmen and that's the combination of the angle, but also the way he ambles to the crease and then zips it down."

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