England head coach Brendon McCullum has provided an update on Jack Leach’s injury as it seems like the left-arm spinner might miss more matches in the ongoing Test series. Leach sustained an injury on his left knee while fielding during the first Test match between India and England in Hyderabad. He played with the injury in the match and aggravated it later on in the same match, bowling with a swollen joint and claimed the wicket of Shreyas Iyer in the second innings.
Leach was picked in England’s squad as the leader of the spin attack but his injury forced the team to change their plans as they put out an inexperienced spin attack in the second Test. Shoaib Bashir replaced Leach in the Vizag Test. While Tom Hartley, who made his Test debut in Hyderabad, is the leading wicket-taker for England in the series thus far with 14 scalps under his kitty.
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McCullum suggested that the injury doesn’t look good as he refused to give a date on his return.
“It is still pretty inflamed, but I don’t really know because he (Jack Leach) has been a crook,” McCullum told Belfast Telegraph.
“His knee is pretty bad though, and it was remarkable he got through what he did in the first Test match,” he added.
McCullum expressed his joy in witnessing his spinners outperform beyond their initial expectations and lauded all the newcomers for their resilience and performances.
“There are heaps of positives. Our spin bowling unit, albeit young and raw, have shown they’ve got what it takes. The one thing I guess you don’t know about in the heat of battle is the character the guys possess,” McCullum stated, according to Sky Sports.
“The development of the young spinners has been fantastic. Not just their skillset but their passion to want the big moments. I am absolutely delighted in how they have performed with very little experience under their belt,” he added.
Meanwhile, the third Test match between the two heavyweight sides will be played on February 15 at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Rajkot.
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