English spinner Jack Leach credited new Test captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum for instilling self-belief in him after he took his maiden 10-wicket haul in the ongoing third Test on June 26 against New Zealand in Leeds.
The left-arm spinner has so far played only 25 international matches for England, as his career has been marred by injury, Crohn's disease (an inflammatory bowel disorder), and inconsistent selection.
Well, a change in England’s leadership in Test cricket saw him get back-to-back matches in the ongoing three-match Test series against New Zealand at home.
He repaid the faith shown by Stokes and McCullum by scalping 13 wickets in the two matches. His best probably came in the ongoing third and final Test, where the spinner recorded the first 10-wicket haul of his Test career.
After the match, Leach lauded Stokes and McCullum for bolstering his confidence as it really helped him to do well with the ball in the ongoing Test series against New Zealand at home.
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Jack Leach told reporters: “I don't know if I thought something like this was possible or not before, probably not. I think the biggest thing is having belief in myself and that's what Ben and Baz (McCullum) have really helped me with. It looks like that's starting to pay off.”
He added, “I am really enjoying working with Stokesy. I say 'what about putting mid-on back?' and he just says no. It's really attacking and I am enjoying bowling like that as well. I've never experienced anything like the atmosphere in that dressing room, this positive way of doing things.”
Leach was part of England’s one of the most remarkable and famous victories against Australia at Headingley, and the history can be repeated at the stadium against New Zealand, as the hosts need 113 runs in 93 overs to clean sweep the Test series at home.
He signed off by saying: “Does this feel better than 2019? At the moment, no. We just need to get the win and then it will be very special. It probably hasn't sunk in but it feels great.”
Meanwhile, New Zealand’s Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell have shared four separate hundred stands in the ongoing Test series in England and the wicketkeeper shared the experience of batting with the all-rounder.
Blundell signed off by saying, “It's been fantastic to bat with Daryl and have those partnerships; it's just unfortunate a couple of results haven't gone our way. This team has been known as a team of fighters... We've got to come out first thing tomorrow (Monday), put a couple of wickets on the score and you never know.”
(With AFP Inputs)
