fter losing to Louisville.Louisville: Ranked fifth in The Associ

It is put to 21-year-old Tom Curran and his 18-year-old brother Sam, sat side by side and dressed almost identically in England stash as two members of this winters Lions programme, that the younger sibling is generally considered the most talented. The example offered is Michael Jackson - the youngest of the original Jackson 5, who left the troupe to become the undisputed King of Pop. Sam smirks. Tom responds: Good thing were not in the music industry then, pal!Brothers in cricket are no new thing. Even at Surrey, before Currans, there were Hollioakes. Both Adam and Ben left such a profound mark on the club that the mere mention of their names gets Brown Caps misty-eyed. As they talk about how Adam led and Ben thrilled, the conversation invariably turns to just how far Tom and Sam can go. The consensus is: far.It was 2015 when Surrey fans got their first good look at both. Tom led the line as an assured and ridiculously skilful right-arm quick in a promotion charge that saw the club finish as Division Two champions, thanks to his 74 wickets. Sam, a genuine allrounder, whippy with his left-arm seam and enterprising with the bat, dropped by halfway through that summer to make his senior debut in a T20 Blast fixture against Kent in front of more than 20,000 people at the Kia Oval, two weeks after his 17th birthday.From then, he was around to offer assistance to Tom, taking 11 Championship wickets and even registering a half-century in the final match of the season, at home to their father Kevins former county Northamptonshire. It was in that fixture that the Currans became only the third pair of brothers to take all ten wickets in an innings, with Tom grabbing the big brothers share of seven and Sam making do with three.This year saw a more even share, as Surrey turned around relegation form to finish fifth in Division One. Tom took 33 wickets, Sam 27. Their advancements in white-ball cricket have also been clear to see. Sams ability to swing the new ball at pace gets things going, while Tom works the older one with wide yorkers and a bit of reverse swing. Both have taken on more responsibility than most at their age, and it is only when they are together, poking the other in the ribs or trying to spy on each others phone activity that you realise just how young they are.Its hard sometimes to take it all in, says Tom. Its been an unbelievable journey and things have happened pretty quickly at Surrey. Particularly, he says, when he was the spearhead of Surreys bowling attack at just 20. As cricketers, you want to be given the ball at the tough times and you want to be leading your attack. Ive been lucky enough to do that.The career acceleration meant that, given the age gap, Sams Surrey debut in July 2015 was the first time that the pair had played competitive cricket together. Sam, though, offers a caveat. Well, other than the back garden. I think we had some very good encounters.Tom interjects, pointing to Sam as he does so: No, but thats different because in the back garden you can cheat! This one: geez! It seems an odd twist, considering garden crickets long, sketchy history of the oldest sibling opening the batting and being the sole arbiter of the laws. Not so in the Curran household.If there is an older-brother dynamic that Tom has upheld, it is of leading the way and clearing a path for his younger brother. It was his performance during a school match in Durban for Hilton College in January 2012 that left such an impression on the former Surrey captain, Ian Greig, who was in charge of the opposition, that he alerted Gareth Townsend, Surreys academy director, to Toms talents.Later that year, after the tragic passing of their father Kevin, a former Zimbabwe allrounder, Surrey used their partnership with Wellington College, where Tom was continuing his schooling thanks to a bursary, to bring both Ben - the middle brother and an organised left-hand batsman - and Sam to England to keep the family together.Just as Tom did when he joined, Sam spent 2016 balancing cricket with his last year of A-Levels. And it was Toms experiences that, essentially, scoped Sams itinerary.It was quite tricky, actually. In April I played the first game of the season and then there was an agreement that I was going to play no games up until my exams were finished; maybe the odd T20. That was the same with Tom - the relationship between the school and the club was very good.Did he have a say in how much or what form he could play? Dont let him pretend to be Mr Bigshot - he didnt! ribs Tom.Nah, I dont think I did have a say, admits Sam. But the balance was good: we had a psychologist who did actually work well with me and made sure I did everything. There were a couple of four-day games where the lads went out for dinner but I had to stay put. The lads did take the mick out of me a little bit when I had to do a bit of school work. And when school thought I was behind, they would make sure I wouldnt play any cricket.By way of thanks, Sam made sure he played a few games for the Wellington side, too. Commiserations to the poor saps who lined up against a player who would go on to average 27.85 with the ball and 39.33 with the bat in Division One. It was fun, he beams, though presumably not for the opposition.Refreshingly, the atmosphere of professional sport has merely strengthened their bond. While both are hard on each other in the field - if he messes up off my bowling then it is a bit easier to spray him than the skipper, admits Tom - it is simply an extension of the competition that has featured in their family throughout. Fittingly, they cant decide who is the most competitive.Its something that has been with us the whole way through, says Sam. As three brothers, weve been competitive - whether it is golf or in the cricket field. I suppose as cricketers we are team-mates, but on the golf course there are no team-mates. And there are no free drops!As for the biggest sulker, Tom is happy to win that outright, prompted by Sam: See, Ive only just got my licence, so he sulks when he has to drive home after bowling 40 overs.Its an easy life for him! bites Tom. He just stands around in the field and then hes got his feet up on my dashboard!There are elements that give the other strength, too. For instance, Toms sure footing in a young, sparky dressing room enabled Sam to lean on his older brother before making his own impression. The trick for Sam was in identifying the difference between the school set-up and that of a county: At school youre looking to impress yourself. But in the Surrey side youre about enjoying team success and that is something that has really stuck out to me.For Tom that older presence was provided by Jade Dernbach, who took him under his wing and advised him in matters on the field and off it. It is hard to think of a player more in tune with the fickle nature of the game than Dernbach. He was my age once, says Tom, and he put his arm around me. He made me feel a bit more relaxed within myself. When Sam came into the Surrey side, I tried to do the same for him. Im sure Sam will do the same when hes an old man.Sams progress with the bat has also lit a fire under Tom, who has let this discipline slip, despite some recovery last season. As a youngster his batting and bowling progressed at an equal rate of knots, and Surreys former captain Graeme Smith and former coach Graham Ford believed that he had the ability to be a world-class allrounder. The lapse has been understandable: Toms intense workload of 31 Championship matches and 44 limited-overs matches in the last two seasons has seen him opt for extra rest rather than practice, for fear of burnout (it is worth noting that the only Championship match he missed in this period - Hampshire away this summer - was down to a Lions call-up). It is a lapse he is keen to address over the winter.The Lions tour presents an opportunity for both brothers to further broaden their horizons, with a training camp in Dubai, a short tour of Sri Lanka in February, and the experience of working with new, unfamiliar team-mates who are usually nine-to-five rivals.It may also prepare them for the possibility that, eventually, one might leave the other behind. Having experienced the first throes of professional cricket together, both admit that will be a new sensation.I was actually thinking about that the other day, reflects Sam. Obviously, coming into the Lions side, hopefully we both play. But there will be a stage when it comes down to the pitch or the opposition, where one of us gets left out. I guess we kind of have to take it on the chin. Itll be a dream to play for England and even when its not you, if its someone in your family, youre going to be really proud of them.To allow a moments speculation, Tom looks to possess the requisite skills to be a fine international bowler - perhaps even a long-term replacement for James Anderson - while Sams precociousness suggests a role in the top six is not beyond him. As George Dobell reported last week, the England management was considering bringing Sam to India to have a closer look at him but decided against it.Whichever one does take that first step to the next level, you can be certain of one thing: the other will be very proud. And not too far behind.Jeremy Lauzon Jersey . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. 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With the first unit struggling of late and Amir Johnson - one of the teams iron men - hobbling on an injured right ankle, Patterson knew he could get the nod in a challenging matchup against one of the leagues up and coming players at his position.LOUISVILLE, Ky. -- Crisp passing helped lead to easy baskets for No. 5 Louisville in a rout of Belmont.Asia Durr and Ciera Johnson scored 18 points apiece as the Cardinals beat Belmont 73-50 in the home opener on Sunday.Mariya Moore added 13 points and six assists for Louisville (2-0), which shot 47.7 percent from the field, compared with 32 percent for Belmont (1-1). The Cardinals had 21 assists, surpassing 20 for the second consecutive game.I was pleased with how we passed the basketball, I thought we took care of it well, Louisville coach Jeff Walz said. Everybody is a threat to score on the team and that is what helps us.After scoring a career-high of 24 points on Friday, Durr continued her hot start to her sophomore year with 7 of 12 shooting, including 4 of 8 from 3-point range.Louisville opened the game 7 of 10 from the field and took a 10-point first quarter lead.In the second quarter, Belmont cut Louisvilles lead to nine after a 7-0 run capped by a 3-pointer by Kylee Smith. Walz called a timeout and the Cardinals ended the final 4:16 of the first half on a 15-2 run.When you have players like Asia, Mariya and BJ (Briahanna Jackson) it makes it a lot easier (to score) because it was one-on-one in the post, Johnson said.Despite the 23-point win, Walz was not satisfied with his teams performance on the glass, in particular Louisvilles offense rebounding, or lack thereof.We have to get better at it, Walz said. Getting out-rebounded by 20 isnt too impressive.Smith scored a team-high 13 points for Belmont.BIG PICTUREBelmont: The Bruins return five starters and their top nine scorers from their NCAA Tournament teeam last year, but they had trouble scoring against the Cardinals length and pressure defense.dddddddddddd Belmont wont face many teams with Louisvilles length and size in the Ohio Valley Conference. The Bruins were selected as the OVCs preseason No. 1 team.Louisville: After making seven 3-pointers on Friday, Durr made four on Sunday, scoring 11 points in the first period. Possibly overshadowed by Durrs performance, Johnson was a force in the low post, going 6 of 7 from the field and 6 of 9 from the free-throw line.POLL IMPLICATIONSBelmont: The Bruins received four votes in The Associated Press preseason Top 25, but their four votes werent enough to earn them a ranking. They are unlikely to be ranked after losing to Louisville.Louisville: Ranked fifth in The Associated Press preseason Top 25, Louisville is expected to stay behind Notre Dame, Baylor, UConn and South Carolina in the poll released Monday.RETURN TO LOUISVILLEBefore taking the head coach position at Belmont, Cam Newbauer served as an assistant at Louisville under Walz from 2011-13. Newbauer coached alongside Walz during Louisvilles 2013 run to the national championship.UP NEXTBelmont: Continues its four-game road trip to begin the season, playing Troy on Wednesday.Louisville: Will play its third consecutive game against a team from Tennessee, going on the road against Middle Tennessee State on Wednesday. Louisville and Middle Tennessee last met in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 2013, where the Cardinals won 74-49. ' ' '