Birthday Special: Jack Leach’s top 3 spells in Test cricket

Jack Leach has been of the underrated performers for England in the longer format. He is yet to seal his position in the playing XI. The left-arm spinner does hold on to a place when England tours the subcontinent nations and he can bowl some beautiful lines and lengths as well. With 82 wickets in 24 Tests at an average of 33.5, Leach still has a big role to play in the England Test setup. He turns 31 today (June 22). Here are the top 3 spells from him in Test cricket.

5 for 122 vs SL, Galle, 2021

In the 2021 tour of Sri Lanka, Leach came up with a five-wicket haul in the second innings to help his side to victory at Galle International Stadium. He started with 1 for 55 in the first innings and finished with six wickets in the Test. Joe Root’s double century was the turning point in the game as the visitors won by Test by seven wickets.

4 for 54 vs IND, Ahmedabad, 2021

In 2021, when England toured India for a four-match Test series, it was a day-night Test at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad where Leach made his presence felt in a forgettable encounter for his side as Axar Patel ran through the English batting order with a six-wicket haul. Leach stepped up with 4 for 54 in the first innings and brought down India’s first innings total considerably. He did not pick up any wicket in the second game as India won the Test comfortably by ten wickets.

5 for 83 vs SL, Pallekele, 2018

In the 2018 tour of Sri Lanka, in the second Test in Pallekele, Leach picked up his best figures in an innings in Tests (5 for 83) in the second innings. He picked up 3 for 70 in the first innings to end up with an eight-wicket match haul and it certainly was a memorable Test for the left-arm spinner as England ended up winning the game by 57 runs.