Jack Leach is confident he can become the second innings match-winning spinner England are looking for thanks to his bouncebackability after the horrors of Brisbane.
And the journey to becoming England’s reliable frontline spinner began just hours after his mauling in the opening Ashes Test in December. Leach was taken for 102 runs from just 13 overs as Travis Head led the assault on his bowling at the Gabba, but instead of wallowing in pity, the Somerset twirler was back at it the very next day after the match was over.
There was a reward of sorts with 4-84 in the second innings in the draw in Sydney, but the reality is that Leach has had to take that chastening experience and now is trying to prove his worth on a tour where he is bowling more overs than ever before. “It's something I've never had to do before,” admitted Leach. “It was challenging but those are the kind of challenges that I want.
“I'm trying to become the frontline spinner for England and I really see the last couple of weeks as really valuable for my development on that road. I always want more wickets, probably in less overs than 94 or 95! I'd like to get them a bit quicker, but it won't be too long before I turn those three-fors into five-fors, especially in the second innings.
“Brisbane was…I felt horrible. Not a good moment but I think I trained the next day actually after the game thanks to Jeetan Patel who said ‘let’s do something about it rather than stew.’ Australia was a really tough trip for everyone but I did feel like I learned a lot and I came back really motivated and buzzing.”
There has been a subtle change in Leach’s outlook on his place in the England team which should start to reap rewards. A cult hero for his one not out and glasses cleaning heroics at Headingley in 2019, the 30-year-old has struggled to feel as though he truly belonged. But 168 overs so far on this tour shows he is being backed to do a job by Joe Root, and after watching YouTube videos of Graeme Swann, he is adopting a bit of his attacking vim and vigour into his own style.
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“It's been nice to play back to back games,” he added. “This is what I want to be doing – playing and contributing. I’m trying to offer as much as I can and maybe I wasn’t doing that so much before. I felt I was playing for my spot.
“A big focus for me now is having that attacking mindset, always looking to take wickets. I've been guilty of easing into spells, earning the right to bowl and going at two an over. But that's a negative mindset.
“I've watched YouTube videos of Swann and how attacking that looks. I don't know what he was thinking - in fact I do know, it's "how am I trying to get this guy out?" and sometimes the first 20 balls against a batter is your chance.”
