REALITY JACK I’ve had my frustrations, but stuck at it
JACK LEACH admits that there have been plenty of times during the past two years when he has been given reason to doubt himself.
He has been dropped, succumbed to serious illness that would threaten his life – not just his career – got picked up and dropped again.
But for all of those steps, forward and back, the Somerset spinner insists that his self-belief remains intact. And he’s hoping to be
given a chance
to prove his worth with a mouthwatering summer of Test cricket ahead. Leach maintains that if given the opportunity to pick up the threads he last held on the dustbowl of Ahmedabad in March, he will not disappoint.
He has done well in 2021, taking 18 wickets against India in four Tests, following 10 in two against Sri Lanka.
But Leach not only found himself surplus to requirements for the New Zealand series at home, but he has struggled for game time with his county too.
Leach said: “When I was not selected for the New Zealand series I said to Spoons [England head coach Chris Silverwood] that it was frustrating.
“I want to be playing as many games as possible at that level. I guess the thing I’ve struggled with over the past couple of years has been that momentum of playing games and feeling like you’re learning from those experiences.
“This season the hardest challenge for me mentally has been feeling like I’m getting enough overs in games.”
Limited Championship opportunities, a spell of Covid self-isolation and now the blanket Hundred and white-ball coverage, have left Leach, 30, kicking his heels.
But he insists the experience of taking wickets in India will see his confidence flood
back to him if he gets Virat Kohli and co in his sights during the five-Test series that starts on Wednesday at Trent Bridge.
“From the India series I know I can bowl at these guys and do well,” he said. “It is about taking that belief forward.”
With Friday’s news that Ben
Stokes is taking an indefinite break from all cricket, Leach will be missing his partner from his most famous Test cameo, at Headingley in the Ashes in 2019.
Leach said: “That feels a long time ago, but I look back with fond memories of the big crowds and the atmosphere.
“I really felt I thrived off that. It’s good to have crowds back after what’s gone on.
“I feel I bowl well in England, it’s a good place to bowl spin – and I’ll be looking forward to it if the opportunity comes.
“This series will be a big indicator, but one thing we’ve been good at in the last few years is winning home series.
“It’s what we judge ourselves on, and it is good base to be going from if you’re winning from home – and hopefully you can take that abroad as well.
“Playing against India, who are such a strong side, in a five Test-match series, will tell us a lot about where we’re at.”