Jack Leach will not play in the second Test match at Vizag due to a knee injury. He sustained the injury during the first Test and did not train with the team, making his absence almost certain. This could lead to a debut for 20-year-old off-spinner Shoaib Bashir.
Leach’s injury has been described as a haematoma, and it is a significant blow for England, especially after his long absence from the game due to a back injury. His absence is expected to create an opportunity for his replacement, Shoaib Bashir, in the upcoming Test match at Visakhapatnam.
The decision to rule him out was confirmed by England captain Ben Stokes, and there is a growing feeling that Leach will not be available for selection for the second Test.
England will be without their most experienced spinner in the second Test match at Vizag as Jack Leach has been ruled out. It is definitely a big blow for England, firstly because he is someone who can provide breakthroughs at any stage of the game. Secondly, he is dead accurate with his line and lengths, which is a must-have attribute in these subcontinent conditions.
The first Test wasn’t outstanding for him, but he got the job done when his captain needed him to deliver. In the second innings, Leach dismissed the final cog of the Indian team, Shreyas Iyer.
READ MORE
- England Stuns India at Hyderabad with Commendable Win
- Best Win Under My Captaincy, Ben Stokes Lauds England
- Boycott: England Ripe to Topple India, Rohit Past His Best
- India vs England Head to Head In Tests | ENG vs IND 2024
England has been committed to a spin-heavy arsenal, and now that Shoaib Bashir is available, the choice won’t be hard for Brendon McCullum. If you look at the past records of teams touring India, debutant spinners always do well against Indian batters.
However, the challenge remains big for England. India is trailing, but they are not out of the game. They are certainly a team that can dominate all phases of the game, and when they go this way, it becomes quite frustrating for the visiting teams.
In any case, England’s bowling arsenal will be without experience. There is another question: Will they play Mark Wood? Or will James Anderson be back for the experience and stability he brings to the bowling attack?
At the moment, it looks like McCullum and Stokes are interested in going with a spin-heavy attack, yet there will be some challenges. Despite spin-friendly conditions, it is not easy to bowl in the subcontinent because it can be toiling work for the bowlers.
It is very important to keep wickets in play. That’s how you get wickets in India. Tom Hartley was too full and too wide in the first innings, but as soon as he brought wickets into play in the second innings, things became tricky for the Indian batters.
Keeping it on wickets means the batters have to play the ball. If it turns from the stump line, it challenges the edge; if it doesn’t, stumps and pads are always in the threatening zone.
