England current spin sensation Jack Leach signs a two-year extension deal with Somerset. The county club announced Leach’s contract extension on January 26. Leach’s contract was due to expire at the end of 2022. The new deal will see Leach play for Somerset until 2024.
Jack Leach debuted for Somerset in 2012 and since then he has featured in 92 first-class games for the county club. In his domestic career, Leach has bagged over 300 wickets at a solid average of 26.06 with 21 fifers and 3 ten-wicket hauls to his name. His performances at county level has helped him to become the first choice spinner for England in test cricket.
Andy Hurry, Somerset’s director of cricket hailed the spinner for showing strong character over the years. Hurry said, “To put it in simple terms, Jack Leach is an outstanding cricketer. Not only is he a bowler of the very highest caliber. His drive and determination to succeed are second to none and his will to win is unquestionable. We all saw that in his performance with the bat at Headingley in the last Ashes series.”
In his short career in the international arena, Leach has taken 44 wickets in 12 matches. He was England’s triumph card in the Test series against Sri Lanka where his 10 wickets helped the visitors to win the series by a canter. After his performances against the Islanders, the ECB has named him to the squad for the first two Tests against India.
Leech will have a big role to play in the Indian conditions. However, the opposition will also be much tougher as Indian batsmen are good at playing spin bowling. Until now, Leach has enjoyed a lot of highs in his short career with England, but his skillset will be much better tested in the four match series against India. If he manages to take wickets consistently against India, then his place in the team will be cemented for a long time.