The England cricket team suffered a big blow on Sunday as spinner Jack Leach was ruled out of the remaining three Tests against India. Leach missed the second match due to an injury after playing key role in England’s triumph over India in the series opener. In the second Test, he was replaced by debutant Shoaib Bashir, who couldn’t do much with the ball as the tourists lost the match by 106 runs. With Leach ruled out, England would have to rely on the trio of Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir for spin bowling duty in the remaining three Tests against India.
England have also confirmed that they will not be naming a replacement for Leach, and will be relying on the available spinners for the rest of the tour. England batter Joe Root, who has transformed himself into an all-rounder on spin-friendly Indian wickets, had sustained an injury in the Vizag Test but the statement from England didn’t have any input on his absence.
In a press release, the England and Wales Cricket Board said: “England and Somerset spinner Jack Leach has been ruled out of the rest of England Men’s Test tour of India with a left knee injury.
Leach sustained the injury during England’s first Test victory in Hyderabad and missed the second Test in Vizag as a result.
He will fly home from Abu Dhabi in the next 24 hours, where the England team have been staying ahead of the third Test in Rajkot, which starts on Thursday.
Leach will work closely with the England and Somerset medical teams in respect of his rehabilitation.
England will not be calling up a replacement.”
The 32-year-old spinner has taken 126 wickets in 36 Tests for England, and is also a handly batter down the order.
England Test squad: Rehan Ahmed, James Anderson, Gus Atkinson, Jonny Bairstow, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ben Foakes, Tom Hartley, Ollie Pope, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Ben Stokes (captain), Mark Wood
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