‘It's a bit of a rocky road’ – Jack Leach

Having wrapped up their limited-overs assignments in Sri Lanka, England are preparing for the three Tests, but Leach didn’t get any game time in the first two-day tour game against Sri Lanka Board XI. Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid were England’s lead spinners there, and rain has prevented him from going out and ripping it in the second game, also against a Sri Lanka Board XI.

“I want to get out there and just start the tour and get my first bowl out of the way in the middle,” said Leach on Thursday, 1 November.

Leach held his own in his debut Test, against New Zealand in Christchurch, where the pacemen reigned supreme, picking up 2/61 in the second innings as England almost pulled off victory. But then came the injury, forcing him to miss the series at home against Pakistan in the summer.

“It's a bit of a rocky road. I definitely believe those things are there to test me and challenge me and make me better. I definitely learned that,” said the 27-year-old left-arm spinner.

“When I'm in the highs, I'm thinking, ‘right, stay switched on here because it's not going to be long till the next low’. When I'm in the low, I'm also thinking it's not going to be long till I'm feeling good again. That's a good lesson I've learned and something that keeps me looking forward."

Ali and Rashid are definitely England’s frontmen as far as spin is concerned, but in Sri Lanka, Leach should expect to get a chance during the course of the three Tests. If he does, he will be among friends.

“I find them both hilarious. They have actually been really helpful. They've given me some good advice and we're starting to chat as a group about certain situations,” said Leach. “Even from the two days I've not played in, speaking to them about their spells and what they were feeling regarding field placings, I think I've learned a lot from that.”

The first Test will be played in Galle, and will be Rangana Herath’s international farewell. Herath has been a champion left-arm spinner for many years, and will not only want to sign off with a win, but add to his 430 wickets in his 93rd Test.

“There's not a lot of mystery. It's subtle changes of pace and subtle changes in where he delivers the ball from. He always hits his spot but he has got his fielders out and it's one run. The batter's mentality is to want to score boundaries so you have to be clever with that and that's something I'd definitely going to try to do,” said Leach about the veteran.

“I've watched little bits on YouTube and I just like everything about what he does. His action and how easy it looks. He just trots up and there's a lot of good things in there that are worth looking at for me and are definitely very helpful and good to look at.”