Curran has stated his willingness to return to Test cricket following Ben Stokes' sudden retirement, positioning himself as a potential replacement for the vacancy left in England's all-rounder slot. The 28-year-old has not featured in Test cricket since 2021, though he has continued playing white-ball formats for England, making him a seam-bowling option comparable to Stokes' role in the team.

Stokes' departure presents a structural problem for England as they prepare for an August series against Pakistan, requiring the selectors to reorganise the squad composition. When Stokes was unavailable during the recent New Zealand series, England compensated by including an additional specialist batter and four pace bowlers, a formation that proved tactically unbalanced. Other alternatives being considered include spin-bowling all-rounders Rehan Ahmed and James Coles, though Curran's seam-bowling profile makes him the most direct functional replacement for Stokes' previous contributions.