The Somerset spinner hadn’t played a Test match on home soil since the summer of 2019 until he was relied on by the new leading England team at the start of the New Zealand series.
He then suffered a concussion while playing on the pitch on the first morning at Lord’s, a disgrace that could have cost him his place after Matt Parkinson was drafted in as an emergency replacement for that match. But Stokes and McCullum have stuck to their guns, choosing him at Trent Bridge and again at Leeds, relying on him at key moments in the game and insisting on the kind of attacking pitches that maximize their ground-taking potential rather than minimize risk. .
The rewards have come in the last four days, with Leach winning the first 10-wicket match of his Test career with five in each innings.
His efforts are one of the main reasons England are heavy favorites to seal a 3-0 victory on Monday, when Ollie Pope and Joe Root recover 113 runs from the 183-2 victory.
“I don’t know if I thought something like this was possible or not before, probably not,” Leach said.
“I think the most important thing is to believe in myself and that’s what Ben and Baz have really helped me with. It looks like that is starting to pay off.
“I really enjoy working with Stokesy. I say ‘what about putting the middle of the back?’ and he just says ‘no’. It really is an attack and I also enjoy bowling. He had never experienced anything like the atmosphere in that locker room, that positive way of doing things.
“In the long format of the game, with teams I’ve played for, a lot of decisions are made around negativity, but this new way is extremely positive. It feels like you’re always pushing for that win.”
Leach already has fond memories of his Yorkshire homeland, where he made cricket’s most famous no alongside Stokes in an Ashes Classic three years ago.
And while he’ll never forget it, the best effort of his career at his main suit would surely beat him, provided the winning runs are scored sometime on day five.
“Does it feel better than 2019?
“Not at the moment. We just need to get the win and then it will be very special,” he said.
“It probably hasn’t sunk in, but it feels great. I have to save two match balls, one for each inning. I’ll give them to my dad, he has a collection of all my five balls.”
Asked about the approach in chasing a figure like 296, Leach said: “Obviously we have to come back tomorrow and do it right again.
“But it’s just a positive mindset, and you realize how many decisions in cricket are maybe based on negativity. It’s something I’ve never experienced and I love being a part of it.
“We had a really strong day and we’re pleased with how we hit with Joe Root and Ollie Pope.
“We stuck to our guns this morning, got our rewards. Matthew Potts was amazing and it was great to be a part of him.”
New Zealand felt like a beaten team on night four, unable to stem the flow as Pope (81st) and Root (55th) scored freely in a century position that downplayed the steep 296 run.
The Kiwis have battled hard throughout the series and a 3-0 scoreline wouldn’t serve them well, but Tom Blundell promised they’ll keep fighting.
The New Zealand wicketkeeper has shared a further four hundred associations with Daryl Mitchell, but faces the prospect of having nothing to show for his work.
“It’s been fantastic hitting with Daryl and having those partnerships, it’s unfortunate that a couple of results didn’t go well,” he said. “This team has been known as a team of fighters. So we just have to fight. We have to go out first thing in the morning and put a couple of windows on the scoreboard. You never know, tomorrow is a new day.
Former England captain Michael Vaughan: “New Zealand’s attack seemed on the ropes.
“It’s the best three Test matches England have played in many years, and you can see that players have bought into this brand of cricket.”
A full crowd looks set to pack Headingley on Monday as Yorkshire allows spectators free admission to watch the climax of the series, replicating Nottinghamshire’s successful move last week.
Ultimate Headingley: Page 3
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Source: www.yorkshirepost.co.uk
This notice was published: 2022-06-26 21:51:49
