VISAKHAPATNAM: Due to injury, England’s Jack Leach will miss the second Test against India, paving the way for his Somerset teammate Shoaib Bashir to edge closer to an international debut. Leach, a 32-year-old left-arm spinner, played a minor part in England’s remarkable 28-run victory in the series opener, as Ben Stokes’s squad rallied from a 190-run first-innings deficit, citing a left knee issue.
“He’s ruled out of the second Test. Unfortunately the knock he took resulted in a haematoma,” Stokes told travelling British media on Wednesday.
“It’s a big shame for us and a big shame for him. It’s something we’re assessing every day but the medical team have taken over on that so hopefully it’s not something too serious that keeps him out for longer.”
Last week, Bashir had to make a hurried trip to London to address a visa matter but managed to make it back just in time to witness the thrilling conclusion of England’s remarkable win in the inaugural match of a five-Test series. Despite his limited success, with only 10 first-class wickets at an average of 67, the 20-year-old off-spinner remains determined. In contrast, rookie left-arm spinner Tom Hartley impressed with a seven-wicket haul during India’s unsuccessful pursuit in his Test debut last week, suggesting that England might once more overlook inexperience in favor of potential talent.
“To be perfectly honest, our training camp in Abu Dhabi was the first real live look I got at Bash,” Stokes said.
“The first time I saw him was on Twitter. I think the County Championship put a little clip together of him bowling against Sir Alastair (Cook).
“I just saw something. With the height he bowled from, it was very obvious that he put a lot of action, a lot of revolutions, on the ball.”
