Brad Currie’s cricketing journey, from the club pitches of Dorset to the global stage of the Cricket World Cup, has all the makings of a modern sports fairytale. Less than three years ago, Currie was making headlines in the Southern Premier League with a remarkable nine-wicket haul for Bashley against Lymington. Fast forward to February 2026, and the 27-year-old left-arm seamer is set to open the bowling for Scotland against England’s star-studded lineup, featuring T20 heavyweights Phil Salt and Jos Buttler.
Born in Poole, Currie’s love for sport extends beyond cricket. He’s a devoted AFC Bournemouth supporter, and the moment he learned of his World Cup selection is a story in itself. On February 14, 2026, as Bournemouth edged Liverpool 3-2 in a Premier League thriller, Currie’s phone buzzed with the life-changing news. But as fate would have it, he had to decline the call—Alex Jimenez had just netted his first goal for the Cherries at Dean Court, and Currie wasn’t about to miss the celebration. “My friend got us tickets for that and Bournemouth had literally just scored their second goal and I could feel my phone buzzing in my pocket and I was like, I know what this is, I know exactly what this is. Picked up my phone, I was like, yep and I had to decline the call, then text the coach back and be like, this is the situation, can I call you back?” Currie recounted to the Daily Echo.
Scotland’s entry into the World Cup was itself a twist of fate, with the team receiving a late invitation following Bangladesh’s boycott. Currie’s selection was so last-minute that the head of performance had to text him: “Do you mind if we, like, we need to announce the squad, obviously the coach hasn't spoken to you, but we need to announce it. And I was like, yeah, go for it.”
After the match, with Bournemouth’s win still fresh in his mind, Currie finally returned the call. “I got back to the car after the game, obviously buzzing, and said to the coach, you can't spoil my mood now, can you? And he was like, no, what a day for you. Beat Liverpool and then called up to the World Cup. That was a pretty good day, that one.”
Currie’s rise through the cricketing ranks has been anything but conventional. He’s played for local clubs Poole and Bashley, represented Dorset, and is now with Sussex. His journey has taken him across continents—recently to Canada, and now to India for the World Cup. Through it all, he’s stayed grounded, coaching at Poole Town during the winter and working one-on-one with junior players in the county. “I'm like the cricket version of Jamie Vardy in a way! That's a bit too high praise, but I've always tried to stay pretty close to my roots,” he reflected.
Family plays a central role in Currie’s sporting life. His younger brother, Scott, is also a familiar face in the Dorset cricket scene, now representing Hampshire. The siblings’ paths have diverged on the international stage—Scott has been a substitute fielder for England, making him ineligible for Scotland, despite having previously represented both nations at different levels. “It's tough, it's a weird dynamic,” Brad admitted. “Probably the Curran brothers are the other ones with Ben [Zimbabwe] and then Sam in the England team. But there's not many brothers that are playing on different nationalities. But with it being such a close rivalry between England and Scotland, it's quite a funny dynamic, but I think Scott will have his family bond and family love hopefully above his nationality tomorrow. I mean, that's my hope as a brother. I think that's where I'd stand, but who knows, his love for his country might take over!”
Currie’s social media presence has also grown, thanks in part to his Fantasy Premier League account, FPLScofield, where he’s built a sizable following. He even draws parallels between Bournemouth’s underdog push for European football and Scotland’s World Cup ambitions. “There's no one to fear again for the Cherries in this league,” he said. “It's rather similar to the Scotland versus England or Scotland in the World Cup anyway, it's all very similar. Fear no one and embrace it all.”
On the eve of Scotland’s crucial match against England, Currie is brimming with anticipation. The challenge is formidable: Salt and Buttler are ranked second and fourth in the world among T20 openers. But Currie relishes the opportunity. “It doesn't get much better, I think they're second and fourth in the world at the moment. So quite literally like nearly the best possible partnership that you could possibly form. I think my overall and overriding feeling about it all is just pure excitement, and I love the challenge, I love the stage, and I think Paul Farbrace back at Sussex just sort of seemed to maintain with me that the bigger the stage, the better I play. So I'm ultimately just looking forward to it and the challenge it provides. I'd almost rather play and have to bowl at someone like Buttler and Salt rather than rocking up and playing Lymington at home not knowing anything about their opening batters.”
Currie has already made an impact in the tournament, picking up three wickets at an average of 11.66 and an economy rate of 5.83. His secret? Simplicity and self-belief. “I think Paul Tweddle, our fielding coach we've got here [who also has Dorset connections, having come through at Bridport CC], hit the nail on the head in our meetings and saying yes, we look at the analysis packs, but we're not dictated by them. We take our strengths and then form some plans from some of the ideas of what the analysis shows. So, first and foremost is our strengths and that's where we go from.”
The stakes for Scotland’s clash with England could hardly be higher. “Tomorrow's game is basically all or nothing for both sides,” Currie declared. The outcome will be pivotal for qualification hopes, and a Scottish victory could deal a hefty blow to England’s campaign. “If we do qualify second in this group, I wouldn't shy down from qualifying out of the Super 8s. And just that would literally be the definition of a free hit. So it's just all very exciting. And that's such a macro way of looking at it. It's a real big view on it all. But ultimately, it's bat vs ball. One ball at a time. 240 balls, maybe less, we'll see what happens.”
As Currie prepares to lead Scotland’s attack on one of cricket’s biggest stages, he remains rooted in gratitude for the support of his family, friends, and the local clubs that shaped him. Whether or not Scotland can topple their neighbors, Currie’s remarkable rise is already inspiring. For now, all eyes are on Kolkata, where one of Dorset’s own is set to take on the world—one ball at a time.