Sam Curran keen to shed "vulnerable" label as England face New Zealand

The one dilemma facing Joe Root ahead of the first Test, which takes place at Mount Maunganui, has been over whether to select Curran or Chris Woakes as the side’s third seamer

Sam Curran is hoping that his performances in the upcoming Test series against New Zealand will allow him to “stop being the one that is vulnerable” in England's selection discussions.

The one dilemma facing Joe Root ahead of the first Test, which takes place at Mount Maunganui, has been over whether to select Curran or Chris Woakes as the side’s third seamer.

The 21-year-old’s left-arm angle is likely to see him given the nod over the Warwickshire allrounder. Woakes’ sole previous appearance in Test cricket in New Zealand saw him go wicketless, conceding 107 runs in the process, while he averages 49.50 in Australia.

In Curran’s short Test career to date, he has fared far better in home conditions than abroad. In England, he has taken 20 wickets at an average of 20.94, while his four away Tests – two in Sri Lanka and a pair in West Indies – have brought just two scalps at 105.50 apiece.

“I think if I do get the chance, it is about nailing down my spot in the side and stop being the one that is vulnerable,” Curran said.

“That is my responsibility and whoever gets the spot, if it is me, has to take the opportunity by getting runs and taking wickets and contributing to the team.

“If I do get the nod hopefully I can go well and contribute with both bat and ball. That is my aim and as long as I'm helping to win games for the team then I'm happy.”

^{Sam Curran is likely to beat Chris Woakes to the final spot in England's XI}

There have been question marks, however, over how Curran will fare in the absence of any swing, given his lack of real pace.

The Kookaburra balls used for the series will provide an added challenge for Curran and England’s bowling attack, who were unable to take the final two wickets of New Zealand A in a warm-up game as they were thwarted by a dogged effort with the bat from spinners Ajaz Patel and William Somerville.

“I think any bowler who bowls with a Kookaburra is going to say they prefer the Dukes but you've got to learn somehow,” he added.

“(Stuart Broad) has been saying he's played abroad for 10 years now and you've got to learn to do this because every time you go on tour, this is what you've got.

“It is a great learning curve for me, but I've made some strides in this game and come up with a few different options so I'm pretty confident.”

Subscribe to The Cricketer this Christmas and receive a £20 John Lewis voucher or Alastair Cook’s autobiography. Claim your free gift here