Jack Leach 'determined ever' to play for England

England’s out-of-favour left-arm spinner Jack Leach is “determined” to play Test cricket once again and wants to partner up with Shoaib Bashir during the three-match Test series in Pakistan in October. The 33-year-old has only featured in two Tests in the last 18 months due to injuries.

Leach was England’s lead spinner when Ben Stokes’ took over the captaincy and was also part of the squad when England toured Pakistan in 2022. The left-arm spinner scalped 15 wickets and helped England whitewash Pakistan 3-0. Leach, however, sustained back and knee injuries and has now fallen behind Bashir in the pecking order.

"I totally understand the reason why Bash has been selected. I rate him really highly and think he is already a very good bowler with a lot of promise for the future. We have worked together a lot and I am very proud of him and want to see him flourish. But there is a tour to Pakistan coming up and if England need me, I am more than happy to go,” said Leach.

"I would imagine they will take more than one spinner and I feel I am getting back to my best after almost a year with niggles that have taken some overcoming. You don't always realise how hard it is to come back from injuries.

"Long spells like I have had against Durham certainly help in that respect. It would be nice if both Shoaib and myself could make the Pakistan tour and there is no reason why that can't happen. I don't want to get my hopes up, but I am as determined as I ever have been to play for England."

Bashir has featured in eight Tests so far, picking up 31 wickets, including three five-wicket hauls. Meanwhile, Somerset’s Leach claimed 12 wickets in his last County Championship game against Durham. Somerset are currently second on the County Divison 1 points table.

"In the meantime, I want to do all I can to help Somerset win the Championship. We are all excited at the prospect of facing Surrey at Taunton next as one of three hugely important games.

"We are still right in the fight for the title, which is where we wanted to be at this stage of the season. I think the pitch against Durham suits our style of cricket. You had to be patient as a bowler, but if you kept putting the ball in the right place you were rewarded."

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