Jack Leach: Difficult year made five-wicket haul even more pleasing
Jack Leach said that his difficulties in the past year made his five-wicket haul on his return to the England side, which has put the team on course to win the first Test against Sri Lanka, even more satisfying.
During England’s tour of New Zealand in November 2019, Leach contracted sepsis. He then fell ill in South Africa, and left the tour early, and was told that he was at-risk from Covid-19 because he has Crohn’s disease. Leach only played two first-class games in 2020, after becoming the number two Test spinner behind Dom Bess.
“The last 12 months haven’t been ideal,” Leach said. “Coming back from South Africa I found difficult after being ill in New Zealand and then feeling like I got myself back for the South Africa tour before picking up more illness in South Africa. Being completely exhausted from that and not able to return to a good enough level to play in that series and return home early - I found that a tough experience to go through.
“Everything then was gearing up to Sri Lanka in March and I was looking forward to getting back to it there. Then that didn’t happen and then we were in lockdown. That period was probably the toughest.”
Leach’s haul of 5-122, which took his tally in Sri Lanka to 24 in four Tests after excelling in England’s 3-0 victory in 2018, helped England restrict Sri Lanka to 421 all out in their second innings, setting England 74 to take a 1-0 series lead.
A calamitous early collapse, including the run-out of Joe Root following a mix-up with Jonny Bairstow, reduced England to 14-3, but Bairstow and Dan Lawrence took England to 38-3 at the close, needing just 36 more for victory.
“I think we have consolidated really well,” Leach said. “The way Dan has played on debut has been really great to see. I feel like we can come back and get the remaining runs tomorrow.”
Leach admitted that he had not been at his best on his Test return, although his command of line and length improved noticeably as Sri Lanka’s second innings wore on.
“I still expect quite a lot from myself and yes, it's nice to have five but I understand I haven't bowled as I might like this game,” he said.
“It's been hard graft out there and I've certainly felt a little bit rusty at times, and felt like I could have done a little bit of a better job, but I think the pleasing thing is I felt like I got better as the game went on so hopefully that's a good sign.”
After England’s preparation for the Test series consisted of only one two-day intrasquad game, Leach admitted that bowling 48.5 overs in the Test had been a challenge.
“I found it hard on the body. You can bowl as many overs in the nets as you want but it's not the same as in the middle, when you do put that extra pressure on yourself. You feel it a lot more mentally and physically so it's been a challenge but hopefully a good one if we can knock these final ones off tomorrow.
“Right now I feel pretty tired, the body is sore, but I'm just taking it a day at a time - one thing I've learned is you never know what is around the corner so I'm just trying to enjoy each day and see what happens.”
