Leach: I always believed in call-up

Jack Leach never lost faith in his Test ambitions – even when he had to remodel an illegal kink in his bowling action while the chance of touring India passed him by.

That was almost 18 months ago, and the left-arm spinner believes he is not only a better bowler for the urgent remedial work he had done back then but has an improved chance of meeting the challenges of international cricket.

Leach, called up to join England’s two-Test tour of New Zealand, presented a compelling case to replace injured leg-spinner Mason Crane after his recordbreaking exploits in the Lions’ Caribbean tour last month.

He acknowledges the “shock” of discovering his action was not within International Cricket Council limits, but puts it down as one more bend in the road en route to England recognition. “I always believed this was where I was going to get to – I definitely did,” he said. “I think those little lower moments definitely made me stronger and helped me. “No doubt there will be more. I try not to get too emotional and just learn from every opportunity.” He has moved on, with another outstanding season in the Specsavers County Championship and then the best ever Lions’ match haul of 8-110 against West Indies A in Jamaica. But recalling the moment he was told his action was not perfect, the 26-year-old said: “I was shocked. I think all that was on my mind was that I had to sort it out.

“The biggest thing I didn’t like was being worried that (people might think) it was like cheating and that wasn’t something I was trying to do.

“I just didn’t understand my bowling well enough, and actually that’s why I look back on it as a real positive, what I went through.

“It made me understand my bowling a lot better – it’s made me a better bowler.”

Leach knows, though, that it is far from job done.

He is highly likely to remain uncapped over the next two weeks, but can look forward with optimism, not just to the summer ahead but next winter’s tours of spin-friendly Sri Lanka and West Indies.

“This is just a step in the direction I want to go,” he said.

“I want to keep pushing and keep working hard.”