Sussex reign but can’t crush Leach
Chris Oldnall talks to an upbeat Worcestershire captain despite a second thumping by Sussex
Captain Joe Leach is enjoying his first season as Worcestershire’s skipper – but Sussex haven’t made it easy for him by crushing his side twice in the County Championship.
They lost by an innings and seven runs at Hove in early June and then suffered a grim nine-wicket defeat in this week’s match at New Road.
“They’re a good side,” said the 26-year-old after disappointing Worcestershire fell victim to Chris Nash’s first Championship century of the season.
It helped provide ruthless Sussex with a solid platform for a comprehensive victory despite determined first innings knocks from Worcestershire’s rising star Joe Clarke (77) and Ed Barnard (65no).
Their efforts, however, were nowhere near enough to prevent the below-par hosts from following on 162 behind.
After that it got even worse for Worcestershire who subsided to 170 all out in their second innings, leaving their promotion rivals to score the nine runs they needed to register their fourth win in their last five matches.
Leach said: “Sussex will probably be disappointed with their start to the season in Championship cricket because they’d expect to be right at the top of the table. That’s what they are trying to do at the moment.”
But the heavy defeats against on-song Sussex have not diminished the pleasure Leach derives from captaining Worcestershire since replacing Daryl Mitchell.
He said: “It’s been different. It’s hard work. It’s obviously a big job, but I’m really enjoying it. We had a lot of ups at the start of the season. It was a brilliant start, but we’ve experience the flip side of that with our T20 campaign which has probably not really got going.
“So I’ve had both ends of the stick so to speak. But overall it’s enjoyable.”
Leach has not let the added responsibilities of captaincy affect his abilities to pile up another impressive tally of wickets in the Championship. He has now reached 47 after bagging three more when Sussex made 430 in their first innings.
Last season Leach picked up 65 Championship wickets – the highest tally in Division Two. It followed his 59 the previous year.
He said: “Hopefully, I can get past the 65 mark and for us to get somewhere near promotion. That’s definitely the aim now.”