After missing out on the last South Africa series due to health problems, England spinner Jack Leach will now face a stiff challenge to become the team’s first-choice spinner for the upcoming three-match Test series against the West Indies starting on July 8 at The Ageas Bowl.
With 34 wickets at 29.02 in his ten Tests to date, Leach had admitted the challenge reclaim his role as England's first-choice spinner especially with the return of Moeen Ali for the first time since last summer's first Ashes Test at Edgbaston and Dom Bess’ impressive outing in South Africa. There are also newcomers Matt Parkinson and Amar Virdi in the 30-member squad for the West Indies series.
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Leach told reporters from England’s training camp in Southampton, “We've got five really good spinners. It feels like there's everything to play for. There's lots of competition throughout the squad and spin is no different. It's about us all working together to be at our best. It's up to the selectors and not up to us who takes that spot, but I'm so glad to see Mo back as well. When he's at his best, he's an unbelievable player, so yes it’ll be interesting to see.”
However, the spinner isn’t at all disturbed by the competition for a place in the England XI, rather, he is keen on putting up on his best to become a regular starter in the Test squad. The 29-year-old said he wants to bring the best from club cricket to the England set-up to regain his place in the team.
He added, “I’m thinking about trying to bring my best to the England set-up. I feel like I haven’t done that yet and it takes a bit of working out mentally how you want to go about things. You’ve come from county cricket where you feel like you are massively involved and you do that through performing over and over. Here I feel like I haven’t done that yet and I think I have a better understanding of why that is.”
Leach signed off by saying, “My main aim (is) to bring my best to the party and if I do that then I won’t be far away. We’ve got five really good spinners here so it feels like there’s everything to play for like 30 guys all are playing for spots. There’s lots of competition throughout the squad and spin is no different. It’s about us all working together to all be at our best. Then it’s up to the selectors and not up to us who takes that spot.”
(With IANS Inputs)
