Jack Leach, England’s most experienced spinner on the India tour, is unlikely to play in the second Test, which begins in Visakhapatnam on Friday. Leach injured his left knee during the first Test in Hyderabad last week. The left-arm spinner missed England’s training session on Wednesday and spent the majority of his time on the sidelines receiving treatment from the team physiotherapist.
English opener Zak Crawley, on the other hand, commended Leach’s strong attitude and expressed confidence in his chances of playing in the second Test.
“He is a tough child, Leachy. So, I’m not sure. You never know with Jack. You can never really write him off. “We’ll see how he does in a couple of days,” opener Zak Crawley said at the media briefing.
On the first day of the Hyderabad Test, Leach was injured while fielding. The seasoned spinner injured his left knee and, despite seeking treatment, continued to play. He entered the field with a tightly strapped knee and bowled 26 overs in the first innings and 10 in the second. He appeared to be limping during Wednesday’s training session, suggesting that he had not recovered in time for the second Test.
Leach’s injury opens the door for off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, who joined the team late owing to visa concerns. The excellent spinner, who is of Pakistani ancestry, is expected to make his Test debut.
Crawley is convinced that Bashir will succeed if given the opportunity.
“He’s a lovely child. He has a lot about him. He knows what he’s trying to accomplish with his bowling, and he believes in himself. I appreciate that, and I think if he got his chance in this series, he’d do well.”
After a stunning victory in the opener, England will try to inflict more misery on India in Vizag. They would be wary of a comeback from the hosts, who recovered impressively to win the next three Tests after losing the first in England’s previous visit to the Asian nation in 2021.
