Leach plans to unleash full Monty on Indians
SPINNER IS BIDDING TO MATCH PANESAR FEATS
JACK LEACH aims to give India the full Monty treatment in the ultimate test of England’s spin arsenal.
Joe Root’s side have emerged from six days of hotel quarantine in Chennai – with a clean sweep of negative Covid-19 checks – to prepare for Friday’s first Test.
Leach is planning to follow in the footsteps of Monty Panesar, the proud son of Luton whose cocktail of high revs and twirl was a key ingredient of England’s last triumph on Indian soil, in 2012.
Panesar and Graeme Swann shared 37 wickets in four Tests as Alastair Cook’s side fought back to win the series 2-1, by far England’s most under-rated achievement over the five-day course this century.
India were under Panesar’s spell ever since he trapped cricket deity Sachin Tendulkar lbw – and set off on a celebratory lap of Nagpur – to claim his first Test wicket in 2006.
Now Leach, who warmed up for the Indians with 10 wickets at 35.50 each in Sri Lanka, admits his bowling was “a bit rusty” after playing just two first-class matches in 2020 and spending most of the summer as a reserve in England’s bio-secure bubble.
But his success in Sri Lanka – where he took 5-122 and 4-59 to help bag a 2-0 series win – suggests his game is nearer a bag of snakes than a sack of spuds. Leach, 29, said: “It doesn’t get much better than a series in India and, coming to the end of six days’ isolation, we’re excited to get back outside again. “For a spinner, taking wickets in the second innings, as I did in Sri Lanka, is a confidence boost. “But I’m someone who is never happy in a way and there’s definitely more improvement to come.
The way the ball came out in that series wasn’t exactly as I would like it. It’s fair to say at times I did feel a little bit rusty.
“You can do all you want in the nets but to get back out and play those games has been useful.
“Spending six days in isolation is not ideal prep. I have done some reflecting, bowled a few in the mirror and I’m eager to get back out there and get some base training in before the first Test.” Panesar’s match figures of 11-210 in Mumbai nine years ago, as much as Kevin Pietersen’s blistering 186, was the springboard for England’s series-turning 10-wicket victory.
Now Leach must find the spin to confound India’s batting galacticos, led by superstar captainVirat Kohli.
The new Monty? “That’s the plan,” said the left-armer. “I think I can make an impact. They’ve got a lot of right-handers and I can make a good impression and do good things to that Indian line-up.
“Monty bowled an amazing pace, a strong pace. On a spinning wicket, that can be very tricky. I am probably not going to be bowling at the same speeds but it is more about trajectory.
“For me, it is knowing what my optimum pace is – trying to get as much energy on the ball and deceive them that way.”