Jack Leach: "Someone asked me what my highest score for England was. Then I remembered I got 92 at Lord's"

NICK FRIEND: Leach speaks quietly and with a disarming humility; the pride in his voice is obvious and real. Nine Tests have brought 32 wickets at an average of 26.06 – in amongst all else that has happened, there lies a fine record

Jack Leach is reflecting on his newfound celebrity. In amongst an extraordinary summer, England’s left-arm spinner emerged as a cult hero, an unlikely star of a remarkable time – relatable, self-effacing, bespectacled.

Fittingly, he is speaking at Specsavers, where he has had his eyes tested to bookend one of the more comedic subplots of the season.

It is part of a publicity stunt, but it is a harmless, heartening, amusing episode; the next chapter in a story that began with an image both improbable and iconic – of Leach standing stoic amid the Headingley chaos, the game being played on his own terms as he wiped clear the steam from his glasses.

It was an afternoon that, for reasons far greater than the cleansing of his brow, presented him with a rare status. Not all heroes wear capes, and even fewer come with Leach’s backstory. There is a life-affirming honesty to the way in which he goes about his work.

The rest, of course, was history. He stood firm while Ben Stokes wrote his own name into Ashes legend; Specsavers – the series’ title sponsor and the nation’s optician – leapt at the opportunity, offering the Somerset man free glasses for life.

A real offer has been made: a free eye test and a pair of glasses every year – if he wants to take them up on it.

Leach laughs. What has he made of this side of the Test cricket experience? After all, not everyone is afforded such a welcome.

“Of course, I’ve enjoyed it. Who wouldn’t?” he asks. You sense he has benefited from his adulation.

“I’m very thankful and grateful for the way in which people have warmed to me. I’ve really felt that around the grounds. Every time I go out to bat, it goes crazy. I love that. And I love the side of it that is just good fun. It’s important to embrace that.

“But at the same time, there’s a side of me that’s taking my cricket very seriously. I’m keeping my game in good order and trying to get better. I think it’s about recognising it and embracing it, but not getting carried away with it.

“I feel like I’ve got that balance right. I enjoy all that side of it. Me playing my best cricket is me enjoying it with my mates and trying to do my best for the team I’m playing for. I like to have a laugh off the field, and I can separate the two. It doesn’t affect my cricket – it probably helps it.”

^{Jack Leach made 92 against Ireland at Lord's}

There is a jarring humility to Leach’s voice; as he speaks, it is clear that he is beginning to feel increasingly sure of himself as England’s spinner – on merit rather than as a de facto beneficiary.

It has been a long, winding road to this point – one riddled with detours, obstacles and potholes, but Leach is the finest English spinner in county cricket; the last four seasons have brought 180 first-class wickets. His words carry a depth that is forever audible in his tone – a thoughtfulness that never leaves, a genuine appreciation towards those who have supported him.

As England prepare to take on New Zealand once more – the scene of his Test debut almost two years ago, Leach is the man in possession. He has rarely been able to say that. It is easy to place him as a memorable figure of the summer’s Ashes series, but equally easy to forget that Moeen Ali began the series at Edgbaston.

It was the same on debut; he was only called up from the England Lions’ squad when Mason Crane suffered a stress fracture and was ruled out of the series.

Months later, having made his international bow, there was the broken thumb that ruled him out of the home series against Pakistan and thrust his county teammate, Dom Bess, into his position. There has been a remodeled bowling action, a fractured skull and a struggle with Crohn’s disease.

Last year, he suffered a concussion after being struck on the head by a delivery from Morne Morkel. It was his first game back after recovering from his thumb injury. For a time, the after-effects of the blow from the former South Africa bowler remained with Leach; batting was tough.

And then came Ireland. If Headingley sealed his folkloric fate, Leach’s day out at Lord’s would be his making as the summer's cult figure. England, skittled out for 85 in the blink of an eye; Ireland – in their first Test at the game’s spiritual home – responding with 207, sensing history.

Leach, with just an over to go on the first day, emerged for a second time clad in the finest gear of Millichamp and Hall – another nod to Taunton. He survived the six deliveries from Tim Murtagh – few else could say the same.

The subsequent afternoon, he fell eight runs short of a maiden Test hundred.

Leach chuckles. Not since the day itself has he allowed himself to ask what might have been. Instead, he has an anecdote to share, a story to tell – it puts into context the extent of all that has happened since.

“I was doing a Q&A with some kids and someone asked me what my highest score for England was,” he says. “I was trying to think: ‘Was it 14 or 15? It must be something small.’ Then I remembered I got 92 at Lord’s.”

He laughs again – perhaps with a disbelief that has never quite left. His five previous Test innings had garnered 11 runs. His 13 first-class innings for Somerset this summer plundered just 53. And then this.

“It’s not something I think about a lot,” he adds, “but it will be a nice memory to look back on. I was buzzing when I got 92 on the day and then I think it sunk in as I was driving home from Lord’s. I was like: ‘Ah, eight more runs and you’d be up on that board forever.’

“I think it could have been unbelievable. But I’ve learnt in cricket and in life that you get what you’re given. You just have to work your hardest and prepare as well as you can. What will be will be.”

^{Leach appeared at Specsavers after the company tweeted that they would reward the Somerset man for his contribution to the Headingley win}

You sense that Leach understands life better than most – its good and its bad. “I am proud,” he says, looking back. There was a time when all of this – Ireland, Headingley, even overseas tours of New Zealand and Sri Lanka – might have felt many distant moons away from anything resembling a reality.

“I’m someone who keeps looking forward and keeps looking to try to improve and get better,” he says.

“But it is sometimes good in those times of reflection to look back and see where you’ve come from. That gives you great confidence that actually if you keep working hard, in the future you’ll make great strides forward again.

“I’m proud of where I’ve come from and the journey so far, but I want more. I guess there’s a lot more of that journey to come.

“I think I’ve learnt a hell of a lot in that time. There have been some ups and downs along the way. Through those, you learn a lot.

“I feel a better player, a stronger character, someone who understands what Test cricket is and the pressure that comes with it.

“I’m enjoying those challenges and enjoying playing Test cricket. I know that when I enjoy it, I give myself the best chance of playing well for whichever team I’m playing for.”

Leach speaks slowly and softly, but the pride is obvious and real. Nine Tests have brought 32 wickets at an average of 26.06 – in amongst all else that has happened, there lies a fine record.

He would have a 33rd wicket – that of Steve Smith – had his foot remained behind the line at Old Trafford. His economy rate – a frugal 2.79 – has almost been of equal importance. He has offered Joe Root an element of control and a constant, composed threat.

^{Leach's resistance enabled Ben Stokes to pull off a remarkable heist at Headingley}

He is a better bowler now than he was when it began, he thinks, even if he believes this summer displayed nothing like his very best. “At times, I’ve needed to bowl a bit quicker,” he analyses.

“I guess all my work is to become a better spin bowler in general. And then I can make more subtle changes and variations within that.

“In terms of this summer, I didn’t actually feel at my best the whole time. Rhythm-wise, the way the season was set up, I probably didn’t get many overs going into the Ashes. Spin bowling is a lot about rhythm and you get that from bowling long spells in games.

“The way the county season was split up, there wasn’t that many overs going into the Ashes. That was a battle that you’re fighting, but there’s nothing that can be done about that. You can only work as hard as you can off the pitch, in the nets and then try and put that into place.

“I feel like I held my own – I did a job. But I think I can bowl – and I’m aware that I can bowl – better than I did in the Ashes.”

Since the summer came to an end following Somerset’s ultimately unsuccessful County Championship charge, relaxation has been the order of the day.

He has enjoyed time off with his girlfriend in Spain – a much-needed dose of escapism after all that came before it.

“It’s quite draining when the games are that intense,” he adds.

“I literally just chilled out, took the time away and lay on a sunbed and relaxed really.

“It gives you some thinking time – I think that’s where I really reflect and you think about what you’ve learnt in those games and what you need to do to take your game further.

“I want to cement my place in the Test team and I feel like I’ve done some good work in the last couple of weeks to be on the road to do that.”

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Jack Leach was having his eyes tested by Specsavers, official partner of the England cricket team