NEW DELHI: As England and Zimbabwe kicked off their one-off Test match at Trent Bridge in Nottingham on May 22nd, an intriguing subplot emerged beyond the usual David vs. Goliath narrative. While England boasts a formidable lineup with stars like Ben Stokes and Joe Root, Zimbabwe, hoping for an upset, had a particularly interesting name in their playing XI: 28-year-old Ben Curran.

The inclusion immediately sparked curiosity because, as many cricket fans know, Ben is the brother of England’s own Tom Curran (and Sam Curran, though the article mentions “Ben” again here which is likely a typo for Sam). So, why is one Curran brother playing for Zimbabwe when his siblings represent England?

The answer lies in family roots and a different career trajectory. Ben Curran qualifies for Zimbabwe through his father, Kevin Curran, who himself played 11 ODIs for Zimbabwe between 1983 and 1987. Kevin later acquired English residency and had a long stint in county cricket with Northamptonshire. While Ben, like his brothers, had the option to pursue a career with England, his path to professional cricket wasn’t as swift. He explained that he didn’t achieve the “immediate success” his brothers did and, therefore, made a conscious choice to try and make his mark in Zimbabwe.

“It took me until I was a couple of years out of school to get myself the opportunity to play on a professional level, but everyone’s got their own path,” Ben Curran candidly told ESPN. He acknowledged the comparisons but put it simply: “It doesn’t really happen that quickly for a lot of people… There’s no timeline on anything and especially not in professional sport. Not everyone… has quick success. It just took me a little longer.”

It’s a fascinating story of different journeys within the same talented cricketing family, highlighting that success can come at different times and through different avenues.

Read More: A Tale of Two Nations: Ben Curran’s Zimbabwean Debut Against Brothers’ England Sparks Interest