Tag: Jack Leach

Opening batter Zak Crawley and left-arm spinner Jack Leach are likely to make a comeback for England for their upcoming Test series against Pakistan.

England will tour Pakistan for a three-match Test series, scheduled to run from October 7 to 24 with matches scheduled in Multan, Karachi and Rawalpindi respectively.

Meanwhile, experienced Somerset spinner Jack Leach, who has been out of the England Test side since 2018 is hopeful to make his long-awaited comeback, banking on his magnificent performance in the County Championship.

Leach was one of the most pivotal parts of the Ben Stokes-led England Test team but a series of injuries put him out of the international circuit.

Jack Leach acknowledged the competition from youngster Shoaib Bashir, who made notable inroads early into his Test career, picking up three five-wicket hauls in eight matches but the former remained optimistic that England may pick both the spinners for the Pakistan tour.

“I totally understand the reason why Bash has been selected,” Leach said. “I rate him really highly and think he is already a very good bowler with a lot of promise for the future. We have worked together a lot and I am very proud of him and want to see him flourish. But there is a tour to Pakistan coming up and if England need me, I am more than happy to go.”

“I would imagine they will take more than one spinner and I feel I am getting back to my best after almost a year with niggles that have taken some overcoming. You don’t always realise how hard it is to come back from injuries,” he said.

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“Long spells like I have had against Durham certainly help in that respect. It would be nice if both Shoaib and myself could make the Pakistan tour and there is no reason why that can’t happen. I don’t want to get my hopes up, but I am as determined as I ever have been to play for England,” he added.

On the other hand, opening batter Zak Crawley has been out of the action since the last Test of the three-match series against West Indies. He fractured his finger while attempting a catch.

Crawley is now in a race against time as the typical recovery period for a broken finger is approximately six to eight weeks, and the upcoming series against Pakistan was nine weeks away at the time of his injury.

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LONDON: Left-arm spinner Jack Leach shared his excitement for England’s historic Test tour to Pakistan, scheduled in December this year.

Leach, who was included in England’s Test squad for the Pakistan tour, announced last week, and termed the series ‘important’ not only for the two nations but also for world cricket, while he is also looking forward to having the opportunity to challenge himself.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to challenge myself out in Pakistan,” he said. “Two strong teams will be competing, so it should be a good series. To be playing back in Pakistan is really exciting, so I’m really looking forward to it.

“It’s an important series for England and Pakistan, but I also think that it’s important for world cricket. In Pakistan, you can feel how passionate the people are about the game, and to have international cricket back in the country is very important. It’s great that we’re able to get out there and play again.”

The Somerset-based spinner further opined regarding England’s unique approach in Test cricket and also expressed his desire that the side takes the approach abroad as well.

“The summer was great fun, and we got some good results,” he explained. “The way that we’re trying to go about things is exciting and it’s bringing out the best in us as a team.

“We’re looking forward to taking that abroad and to playing in the same positive way because we want to be giving the fans something exciting to watch.”

Leach then went on to comment regarding the playing conditions and pitches in Pakistan and asserted that he is trying not to presume things and also to prepare the same way, he does for any series.

“I’ve been told that the wickets are very good out there, so I think we’ll get a mixture. It can start to spin but it can be flat as well. I think you can expect to bowl quite a few overs there as a spinner, but they’ve got a great seam attack so I wouldn’t want to presume anything.

“The key will be to prepare in the same way that I would for any series and be ready for any situation.”

It is pertinent to mention that England will tour Pakistan for a three-match Test series, scheduled from December 1 to 21. Rawalpindi, Multan and Karachi will host the three matches respectively.

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LEEDS: England’s spinner Jack Leach shone with two five-fers before the right-handed batter shone with a century and a half-century to power the home side to complete the clean sweep over New Zealand.

Set to chase 296 in the third and final Test, the English batters displayed brilliance as they sealed a comprehensive seven-wicket victory over the touring side.

In the run chase, the hosts had an unwanted start as they lost their opener, Alex Lees, cheaply, who walked back to the pavilion following a mix-up between the wickets after scoring a mere nine.

Zack Crawley then ran into the newly-joined Ollie Pope and added 34 runs for the second wicket before the former, who is struggling to score big, as he fell into the touring side’s plan after scoring 25.

With the home side struggling at 51-2, Pope and Joe Root then anchored the run chase as they put on a brilliant show of sheer resilience and dominance. The pair batted for more than 26 overs; both scoring fifties and added 134 runs to the team’s total before the conclusion of Day 4.

The veteran Kiwi pacer Tim Southee then shattered England’s dominant pair in the first over of the final day as he castled Pope with a ripper as the home side slipped to 185-3. The right-handed batter scored 82 off 108 balls with the help of 12 boundaries.

Last inning’s centurion Bairstow then joined Root at the crease and dominated the touring side’s bowlers. The pair put on an unbeaten 111-run partnership at a rapid pace and steered the side to the victory in no time.

Root remained unbeaten with his gritty knock of 86 off 125 balls, laced with 12 boundaries including a six, while Bairstow shone with a blistering 71 not-out off just 44 deliveries with the help of eight boundaries and three sixes.

For New Zealand, Michael Bracewell and Southee remained the only two bowlers to pick a wicket each in the second innings.

For his 10 wickets in the match, Leach was awarded the Player of the Match Award, while Root was adjudged the Player of the Series for his 396 runs and a wicket.

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