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Despite Jack Leach’s knee injury, England is optimistic about his speedy rehabilitation
During the second day of the opening Test against India, England spinner Jack Leach, aged 32, persisted despite bowling with an injured knee, as revealed by assistant coach Jeetan Patel, aged 43, on Friday. Leach, a left-arm spinner, faced a challenging day in Hyderabad, contributing 16 overs as India built a substantial first-innings lead, reaching 421-7, extending their advantage to 175 runs.
Patel disclosed that Leach sustained a knee injury during the previous night while making a dive at fine-leg. The injury persisted as he banged his knee again on the following day, causing some discomfort. Despite exhibiting a slight lack of agility in the outfield, Leach remained committed and bowled effectively according to Patel, a former New Zealand spinner. Patel expressed confidence that Leach would recover and be eager to resume action.
Patel further commented, “Jack consistently gives his all for the team; that’s his commitment. However, it’s unfortunate that a dive at fine-leg resulted in him hobbling around. Despite this setback, I am confident he will bounce back. He’s one of the most resilient members of the team. In the absence of Leach, we had to distribute the workload, and I must say, the other guys, including Joe Root and debutant Tom Hartley, performed admirably by sharing the bowling responsibilities.”
Leach delivered six spells on the second day, including two of four overs each. Despite this, he conceded only 30 runs and bowled four maiden overs.
Patel expressed optimism that Leach will be fit to play on day three, stating, “I hope there are no restrictions. He has a night to rest, and being a resilient individual, he’ll be eager to get back on the field. While Jack won’t shy away from his responsibilities, it’s also crucial to be prudent. With four Tests remaining and another innings in this game, having a key player like Jack is essential.”
The ex-off-spinner further commented, “The discomfort is notable. Observing him in the outfield, it appears more than a mere graze.
Considering his ability to return and continue bowling despite the discomfort, I am confident he will be available for the fourth innings.”
Leach played a crucial role by dismissing captain Rohit Sharma for 24 on Thursday, contributing to England’s total of 246 after they opted to bat first in the initial match of the five-game series.
