England lose key spinner to injury for the rest of India series
England suffer a huge setback with their lead spin bowler ruled out of the remainder of the Test series against India.
Jack Leach will miss the remaining three Tests against India due to a left knee injury, England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Sunday, 11 February.
Leach sustained the injury during the first Test in Hyderabad, leading to his exclusion from the second match. The left-arm spinner will travel back home from Abu Dhabi, where England are currently stationed during the long gap between the second and third Test, which begins on Thursday, 15 February in Rajkot.
“Leach will work closely with the England and Somerset medical teams in respect of his rehabilitation,” the statement from ECB added.
Currently, England have not named a replacement for Leach. However, the squad boasts a formidable spin contingent, including Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley, and Shoaib Bashir, complemented by the part-time option of Joe Root.
The series is level 1-1 going into the third Test. England struck the first blow in the opening Test with a thrilling 28-run victory in Hyderabad but India bounced back in Visakhapatnam with a 106-run win.