Jack Leach Wants to Return to England Team for Pakistan Tour
Jack Leach is eager to play for England again after taking 12 wickets in Somerset’s win over Durham. He hopes to be selected for England’s Test series in Pakistan this October.
Leach was the main spinner for England in the first year of Ben Stokes’ captaincy, but due to back and knee injuries, he has only played two Tests in the last 18 months. His Somerset teammate, Shoaib Bashir, has stepped up, taking three five-wicket hauls in his first eight Tests.
Leach believes he can regain his place for the three-match series in Pakistan. He took 15 wickets during England’s 3-0 victory in Pakistan in December 2022 and feels that his recent performance against Durham shows he is “getting back to my best.”
Ready for the Challenge
“I completely understand why Bash has been chosen,” Leach said. “I think he’s a talented bowler with a lot of potential. We’ve worked together a lot, and I’m proud of him. But with the Pakistan tour coming up, if England needs me, I’m ready to go.
“I think they will take more than one spinner, and I feel like I’m getting back to my best after a tough year with injuries. Bowling long spells like I did against Durham really helps. It would be great if both Shoaib and I could go to Pakistan. I don’t want to get my hopes up too high, but I am as determined as ever to play for England.”
Focused on Helping Somerset Win
Somerset’s 293-run win over Durham has brought them closer to Championship leaders Surrey, and the two teams will play each other at Taunton starting September 9.
“For now, I want to do everything I can to help Somerset win the Championship,” Leach added. “We’re excited about playing Surrey at Taunton next in one of three important games.
“We’re still in the race for the title, which is exactly where we wanted to be at this point in the season. The pitch against Durham suited our style of play. You had to be patient as a bowler, but if you kept bowling well, you were rewarded.”