England's Tom and Sam Curran, plus cricket's other famous brothers – in pictures

Many siblings have represented their countries in cricket internationals, but we put together a list of the most popular and successful combinations

Sam, left, and Tom Curran (England): They made their international debuts in back-to-back years - in 2017 and 2018 - and have a bright future ahead of them. Getty Images

Shaun, left, and Mitchell Marsh (Australia): From a cricketing family, their father Geoff played 50 Tests and 117 one-day internationals for Australia. In fact, Geoff has played more ODIs than his two sons combined. While Shaun has had a chequered career, Mitchell is said to be one for the future. EPA

Kamran, left, and Umar Akmal (Pakistan): Two extremely talented players with bat and gloves, neither went on to become mainstays for the national team. They even have a third brother, Adnan, who also played in a few international matches. Their cousin Babar Azam is hot property at the moment. AFP

Irfan, left, Yusuf Pathan (India): The younger, and more talented, Irfan was tipped to be India’s next great pace-bowling all-rounder since the retirement of Kapil Dev. But a spate of injuries ended a promising career. He ended up being more successful than older brother Yusuf, a spin-bowling all-rounder, but the latter can brag about being a World Cup winner. AFP

Morne Morkel, centre, and Albie, right (South Africa): Two cricketers who could not be more different from each other. Albie is a genuine all-rounder who continues to enjoy playing Twenty20 cricket for various clubs around the world, while the younger Morne carved his own niche as one of South Africa’s most successful Test fast bowlers. Morne, however, has retired from international cricket for personal reasons but plays at county level in England. AFP

Shane, left, Brett Lee (Australia): Shane emerged on the international scene first and entertained viewers with his six-hitting abilities and excellent fielding skills. He was also a decent medium-pacer. Then Brett took the world by storm, becoming one of the world’s two fastest bowlers along with Pakistan’s Shoaib Akhtar. Brett went on to become an Australia great, even as Shane’s star faded quicker than expected. AFP

Steve, left, and Mark Waugh (Australia): Another chalk-and-cheese combo as Steve made batting look difficult, while Mark made it look easy. But Steve was the more hard-nosed, focused, ruthless and ambitious player of the two. Which is probably why he went on to forge a more successful and long-lasting Test career. Steve also proved to be a leader of men and one of Australia’s most successful captains. AFP

Andy, left, and Grant Flower (Zimbabwe): They were not as dissimilar to each other as the Waugh twins, but their batting styles were different. The younger Grant opened the innings but scored cautiously, while middle-order batsman Andy was always busy at the wicket, constantly chipping away and taking plenty of ones, twos and threes. Grant bowled part-time left-arm spin, while Andy was a genuine wicketkeeper. They collectively took Zimbabwe cricket forward. AFP

Ben, left, and Adam Hollioake (England): Both all-rounders, Adam being the poor man’s version of his younger brother Ben. But Adam, like Steve Waugh, was a leader of men and proved it by captaining England to an ODI tournament win in Sharjah in 1997. He did not, otherwise, enjoy a successful international career, but he is considered a county legend. Ben, on the other hand, was earmarked for international greatness before an automobile accident led to his death at the age of 24. Allsport

Surinder and Mohinder Amarnath, pictured (India): Sons of one of India’s great all-rounders, Lala Amarnath, Surinder and Mohinder had contrasting careers. From all accounts, Surinder batted with great maturity and poise but was unable to make it big in international cricket. Mohinder was an aggressive batsman and useful medium-pacer, who enjoyed the fruits of success on the biggest of global stages with man-of-the-match performances in the semi-finals and final of India’s victorious 1983 World Cup campaign. Allsport

Greg, left, and Ian Chappell (Australia): Two men who went on to lead Australia, it is safe to say that Ian was a very successful captain and moderately successful batsman. Greg was undoubtedly the more brilliant of the two batters but famously underwhelmed as captain. While Ian introduced a scrapper mentality to cricket, Greg took it a bit too far. He controversially asked younger brother Trevor to bowl underarm in an ODI against New Zealand. Australia won the game but Greg lost the respect of many of his peers and the general public. Getty Images

Hanif, pictured, Mushtaq and Sadiq Mohammad (Pakistan): Possibly the most successful family of cricketers, all three brothers played for Pakistan at around the same time. They all enjoyed successful careers, too, with Hanif ending up being one of the greatest batsmen of all time, while Mushtaq will always be remembered as a brilliant all-rounder. Allsport

On Tuesday, Tom and Sam Curran became the first pair of brothers to represent England in the same match since Adam and Ben Hollioake did so in 1999.

Both Curran siblings have played for their country before: Tom made his debut in all three formats of the game in 2017, while younger brother Sam made his international breakthrough this year. But they had – until Tuesday against Sri Lanka – not played in a game together.

There have been more than 50 famous families to have graced the game through the ages. The Currans themselves are one – their father, the late Kevin, played for Zimbabwe in the 1990s.

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There are many combinations of players to have done so, too. For instance, Vic Richardson played for Australia before his more famous grandsons – Ian and Greg Chappell – went on to lead the country decades later. The third Chappell brother, Trevor, also wore the baggy green. But they could not all play in the same game – a distinction reserved for the Pakistan trio of Hanif, Mushtaq and Sadiq Mohammed.

Then there are uncle-nephew combinations, Greg Campbell and his nephew, the great Ricky Ponting, being a case in point. How about Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc, whose wife Alyssa Healy – herself an international cricketer – is the niece of … you guessed right: Ian Healy.

And by now you may have figured out that Australia seems produce so many good-to-great cricketing families. That happens to be true.

In any case, to list all the different combinations of family members is beyond the remit of this piece. But you can take a look at the slideshow we have put together – of the 11 more famous pairs of brothers and one group of three siblings to have played for their country in the same match.

To move on to the next picture, click on the arrows on the image, or if using a mobile device, simply swipe.