JACK’S THE LAD
Leach is back with a bang
JACK LEACH waved goodbye to his horror year of health, showing that good things do come to those who wait as he bagged his second five-wicket Test haul.
Not for the first time, the England spinner has faced down the most difficult of off-the-field challenges to earn the right to prove he can deliver on it – and he did just that with a fourth-day performance full of skill, character and fitness.
It was hard to imagine Leach sending down almost 42 overs in an innings after a year in which he was hospitalised with sepsis in New Zealand, and then rocked by another virus in South Africa.
But in the cloying heat of Galle the 29-year-old, who also suffers from Crohn’s disease, took 5-122 as his side bowled out Sri Lanka for 359.
That left England needing just 74 to win, although the tourists undid some of Leach’s good work when they suffered a real wobble at the end of the day, losing three quick wickets to slump to 38-3 before bad light intervened.
Earlier, there was a second Test ton for Lahiru Thirimanne – and 71 for Angelo Mathews – as the hosts put up an impressive fight in their bid to make up for a careless approach that led to them being skittled for 135 in the first innings.
But for all their home advantage and determined batting, it was England’s spinners who were happier with their lot.
Leach, in particular, could reflect on just how tough it had been for him to get back on top.
“The last 12 months haven’t been ideal and it was nice to get wickets on my return,” he said.
“Coming back from South Africa after picking up more illness following what had happened in New Zealand was the toughest period for me.
“I was completely exhausted and couldn’t get to a good enough level to play. I had to return home early, that was a tough experience, then we went into lockdown.
“I try to use those lows to propel me on to highs and it puts things into perspective.
“If I’m healthy and fit and able to play, that’s the main thing – I don’t take that for granted.”
Bowling a little quicker than he did in the first innings, Leach and his spinning partner Dom Bess improved significantly to put Joe Root’s England side in the box seat.
And it was a third son of Somerset – Jos Buttler – who helped to get the job done in the field.
Buttler produced a clever stumping off Leach when Dilruwan Perera was marginally out of his ground.
“Jos has done brilliantly,” added left-armer Leach.
“That stumping was quick work from him and I’m very thankful for it.”