Leach plays it cool after strong showing in front of selectors
Spin bowler takes three wickets for Lions team Curran adds 50 to follow impressive bowling spell
Australian XI (397 & 223-6) lead England Lions (267) by 353 runs
With England coach Trevor Bayliss and selectors Ed Smith and James Taylor looking on, Jack Leach picked a great day to stake his claim for a place in the Test side as he took three for 91 against the Australian tourists.
After finishing with figures of nought for 75 from the Australian XI’S first innings, Leach took the key wickets of top-order batsmen Marcus Harris and Kurtis Patterson before removing captain Tim Paine caught and bowled.
The top edge from Paine swirled around in the air for what seemed like an eternity and Leach did well to hold on.
Leach, however, is not expecting an early call. He said: “I think Moeen [Ali] is rightfully ahead of me, and Rash [Adil Rashid] as well. I am just trying to put good performances in to improve my game and keep learning. I felt I could have bowled better. I didn’t feel like I was at my best but we go again tomorrow.”
Frontline England Lions bowler Jamie Porter was forced off with back spasms early in the opposition’s innings so Leach had to bowl 27 overs consecutively for the remainder of the day, with the break for tea his only respite.
The loss of Porter did not deter the Lions and their tight bowling allowed no Australian batsman to truly get going.
Australian opener Harris hit 50, with Patterson making 38 as spinner Leach’s three wickets gave the Lions some encouragement.
The tourists went on to reach 223 for six at stumps, which translated into a commanding lead of 353.
Mitchell Marsh was lbw to Ollie Robinson for 26, while captain Paine was caught off his own bowling by Leach having made 38.
Matthew Wade, meanwhile, retired hurt after being struck on the arm by Somerset pace bowler Lewis Gregory, who also accounted for Ashes hopeful Travis Head on just 12.
At stumps, Michael Neser was 20 not out and Chris Tremain unbeaten on nine.
After taking six wickets in the Australian XI’S first innings, England’s Sam Curran was unable to add to his tally.
Refusing to leave the spotlight though, he completed a well-made 50 with the bat before being stumped attempting an attacking stroke off slow left-armer Jon Holland. Curran, the 21-year-old Surrey left-armer, is hoping to be named in today’s squad for England’s one-off Test against Ireland, which starts on July 24.