JACK’S SPECS APPEAL

Leach is a cult hero after his Ashes exploits but they came at a cost ...now he’s polishing his glasses and setting his sights on the Kiwis

JACK LEACH might have become a cult hero – but his whirlwind summer came at a cost.

The bespectacled England star started 2019 having played four away Tests, battling to be his country’s main spinner and largely anonymous to the public.

The left-armer flew to New Zealand last week having written his page in folklore with his iconic one not out – with all the wiping of glasses (right, middle) and near run outs – as part of Ben Stokes’ outrageous match-winning stand at Headingley ( far right).

But the demanding series with Australia and the attention that came with it drained the Somerset bowler.

“I felt tired at the end of the summer,” said Leach (right), 28, who has not bowled in anger since the end of September. “Mentally especially, a series of that magnitude is draining and the hype around it. It takes a lot out of you.

“Having that time off and getting away from cricket and doing a bit of thinking of how you want to take your game forward, and where your game is at, was a really good exercise for me.

“Then the last couple of weeks I feel I have taken my game on again, mainly by going back to my basics, improving my game with bat and ball and remembering what is important to me when I am at my best.

“I feel like I have nailed them down a little bit more. It is nice to have a couple of weeks out of competition to work on your game and not worry about the game around the corner.” When Leach went to New Zealand 18 months ago he was a nervous wreck awaiting his international debut.

He was a late call-up following injury to Mason Crane and played in the second Test at Christchurch – taking two wickets as the Kiwis clawed their way to a draw to save the series.

Now it is Matt Parkinson’s turn to have butterflies in his stomach, the Lancashire legspinner hoping to be given his Test cap next week. Leach passed on some advice to the 23-year-old. He said: “I’d been working towards that for a while and when it’s actually happening it’s a scary thing but one that you massively want to experience.

“It is important for Matt coming into the set-up that he stays true to himself and does exactly what he’s done for his county. That is what has got him to international level.

“He’s a very exciting player, has a great record in the early part of his career. He’s going to be a wicket-taker and he gives the ball a big rip.”

Chris Silverwood might be no stranger to the England set-up but his promotion from bowling coach to head coach begins a new era for England. “‘Spoons’ is a really good man-manager which will suit the head coach role really well,” said Leach.

JACK LEACH was having his eyes tested by Specsavers, official Test partner of the England cricket team