Rikki Clarke tells Surrey brothers Tom and Sam Curran to 'stay focused' as they target England

Rikki Clarke has urged Tom and Sam Curran to trust their instincts as they try to fulfil their England ambitions.

Clarke has agreed a two-year deal to rejoin Surrey from next year, nearly 10 years after he decided to leave the county for Derbyshire. Warwickshire, where he has spent eight years, have informed Clarke he will not be offered terms for next season, and Clarke believes he is “coming home”.

During his time with Surrey, Clarke was considered one of the best all-rounders in England and played two Tests. Tom Curran, 22, has already made his England debut while Sam, 19, is part of the Lions squad.

Clarke, 35, believes the Currans are better than he was at a similar stage, but warned them to choose their mentors carefully. “You have lots of advice from people but it is about whether you take it or not,” Clarke told Standard Sport. “I probably changed a bit too much when I was younger.

“There were quite a few voices telling me ‘you should do this or that’. If you get picked for England, you need to remember why you made it that far in the first place, and stick to that. It is vital to keep learning but sometimes too much advice can muddle you.

“But I believe the Currans are better than I was at that stage. They also appear to have wise heads on their shoulders and they are both really impressive.”

Clarke hopes his experience will help Surrey win a limited-overs trophy after several near-misses in recent years.

He added: “I am sure I can learn from all the players here, and I would be delighted if my experience could help the team win a few trophies.”