SPELMAN TRIBUTE TO WESTGARTH
JACK LEACH reckons he can still be the main man for England in the first Test – even though he could head into the game under-cooked.
The left-arm Somerset spinner has opened up on yet more frustration in Sri Lanka after a planned day of bowling was wiped out by rain, leaving him with little match practice before what he hopes will be his second cap.
He has had to wait longer than expected for another taste of international cricket after his debut in New Zealand in March was followed up by a summer of injury and misfortune.
Leach, 27, suffered concussion when he returned after breaking his thumb earlier in the season, but is desperate to show what he can do on a surface expected to spin big.
“I’m not scared of that expectation, I thrive off that,” said Leach. “I want to be positive about wanting to be the main man or part of a three-man spin attack that will take the wickets.
“You’ve got to look forward to the challenge of having to be the man and I’m excited about that, but it has been frustrating with the weather and not playing.
“In terms of match overs, it is important for a bowler, I think. Ideally you would have that, but I’ve been working hard in the nets and I’ve had to wait my turn.”
Leach’s experience at Taunton, on the most spin-friendly surface in England, should hold him in good stead for what he is likely to find in Galle, where fellow left-arm spinner Rangana Herath will be playing in his final Test.
And former England spinner turned TV ballroom dancer Graeme Swann reckons Leach is right to be licking his lips at the thought of bowling on a responsive surface.
“I think he can bowl,” said Swann, who took 255 Test wickets. “I’ve seen him bowl a bit, he’s a good student of the game.
“He would certainly be a better bet than Adil Rashid as my second spinner over there because he’s more reliable.
“If you’ve people who know how to bowl on turning wickets, you take them to places where the wicket turns.”
And after a career stalled by injuries, questions over his bowling action and the promotion of rival spinners, Leach certainly deserves a bit of luck on his side.
“The things that happened over the summer and in my career so far have made me feel a bit more resilient and a lot stronger character for those things,” he added.
“It’s a bit of a rocky road. I definitely believe those things are there to test me and challenge me and make me better.
“And that is why I’m always looking forward and trying to improve.”
‘I CAN TURK NO.1 SPOT’
JUSTIN ROSE is on track to reclaim the world No.1 spot after a six-under 65 to begin his defence of the Turkish Airlines Open.
Paul Dunne leads by one at seven-under but Rose is lurking ominously, a slam dunk eagle on the fourth the highlight of his day.
Rose, who played alongside Ryder Cup stars Thorbjorn Olesen (-6) and Tommy Fleetwood (-3), can only displace Brooks Koepka with victory – a situation he is relishing.
“It’s nice that there is no other scenario in play,” admitted Rose (left). “It’s a simple equation which I think helps rather than if I could finish third.” THE man at the centre of boxing’s most recent tragedy accepts there will be more fatalities in the ring.
Dec Spelman will have Scott Westgarth’s name on his shorts when he fights in Ultimate Boxxer tonight in tribute to the opponent who died from injuries after their bout in February.
Spelman decided not to quit but accepts he puts his life on the line. “This is boxing, it’s a dangerous sport, and there will be more deaths,” said the 26-year-old dad from Scunthorpe.
“You’ve two fit, strong lads fighting and it will happen again. Not boxing again went through my mind. I spoke to my manager and my girlfriend and I decided the best thing was carry on.”
Adam, the brother of Westgarth (left), will cheer on Spelman at London’s O2 Indigo in a contest featuring eight light-heavyweights in a series of three-round fights.