LEACH IS JUST THE JAB FOR ENGLAND
Jack in line for vaccine on his return.. but he is in no hurry at all to leave India
JACK LEACH will be fast-tracked in the queue for a Covid vaccine on his return home – but he refuses to be needled by the spinning pitches in India.
On Thursday, England return to the scene of their 10-wicket demolition on a dirt track in last week’s farcical two-day Test in Ahmedabad.
In near-unplayable conditions, England were skittled out for 112 and 81 in the shortest Test match since World War II, generating more hot air about the pitch than the dust from a good-length delivery.
But left-arm spinner Leach, England’s leading bowler in the series with 16 wickets at 29.62 each, does not have the pin about surfaces which have maximised India’s home advantage.
He said: “As a cricket fan, if I was watching a Test match, I would probably want it to last longer than two days
– whether that’s down to the pitch, or cricketing skills.
“But as a player, I am fully concentrating on how I can do my best on every wicket I play on, and they outplayed us on that wicket.
“Ravichandran Ashwin is a world-class bowler, Axar Patel was very accurate, and I only want to say they bowled very well, and that I’m looking at them and seeing how I can get better.”
Leach, 29, has acquitted himself well on the subcontinent this winter to become England’s firstchoice spinner after playing just two first-class matches in 2020 due to illness and lockdown.
He has managed his battle with Crohn’s disease – an inflammatory bowel condition which makes him eligible for the Covid vaccine among priority groups with existing medical concerns – with dignity and professionalism.
Leach said: “I’ve heard from my GP – I think I’m due for the vaccine when I get back. He said there’s one waiting for me.”
But the Somerset twirler is in no rush for the jab back home when he is finding his range in India. He added:
“My belief in myself is more than it has been in the past.
“Doing it out here in India against some top batters has given me lots of confidence. I know I still have lots of hard work to do, but I’ve seen how I can come back from disappointment or tough times in games and put in good performances.
“That’s more pleasing to me than having it all my own way and bowling sides out.
“Obviously, that would be lovely and that’s where I want to get to, but to come through some tough moments in games and put in good performances has given me a lot of confidence.”
England can still level the series at 2-2 by winning the fourth Test, and Leach says skipper Joe Root’s (inset) spell of 5-8 should encourage him to bowl more as a front-line spinner than an occasional stopgap.
Leach said: “It was an unbelievable spell, wasn’t it? Nicked a five-for off me, didn’t he?
“He’s a really good off-spin bowler and hopefully he gets a lot of confidence from what he’s done in that game.
“He should definitely think of himself as a genuine option – in these conditions and others.”