On Sunday, the England cricket team faced a significant setback with spinner Jack Leach being ruled out of the remaining three Tests against India due to injury. Leach, who played a pivotal role in England’s victory in the series opener, missed the second match due to this injury. His absence saw debutant Shoaib Bashir take his place, albeit without much impact as England lost the match by 106 runs. With Leach sidelined, England will now have to depend on Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, and Shoaib Bashir for spin bowling duties in the remaining Tests against India.
England has also confirmed that they will not be seeking a replacement for Leach and will rely on the existing spinners for the remainder of the tour. While England batter Joe Root sustained an injury during the Vizag Test, there was no mention of his status in the statement from the England and Wales Cricket Board.
🚨 BREAKING NEWS 🚨
Jack Leach has been ruled out of the rest of the India Test series 💔
Get well soon 🙏 pic.twitter.com/4HEO7elAQR
— England’s Barmy Army 🏴🎺 (@TheBarmyArmy) February 11, 2024
In a press release, the England and Wales Cricket Board stated that Leach sustained a left knee injury during England’s first Test victory in Hyderabad, leading to his absence from the second Test in Vizag. He will be returning home from Abu Dhabi within the next 24 hours, where the England team has been stationed ahead of the third Test in Rajkot, starting on Thursday. Leach will undergo rehabilitation under the supervision of the England and Somerset medical teams.
Leach, aged 32, has amassed 126 wickets in 36 Tests for England and also contributes as a handy batsman lower down the order.
Also Read: R Ashwin Reacts To Jasprit Bumrah Taking No.1 Test Spot From Him
