Left-arm spinner Jack Leach has been sidelined from the remainder of the Test series against India. Leach had sustained a knee injury during the opening Test of the series in Hyderabad after which he missed the second fixture in Vizag. England have decided not to name a replacement.
Brendon McCullum floated the idea of playing an all-out spin attack in Vizag but the unavailability of Leach, England’s most experienced spinner in the current squad, rendered it impossible. Shoaib Bashir eventually replaced Leach in Vizag.
A statement from the ECB stated that Leach will fly home from Abu Dhabi in the next 24 hours. The England squad has been in Abu Dhabi since the second Test in Vizag came to a conclusion. They will now travel to Rajkot sans Leach for the third Test that commences on Thursday, February 15. He will now work closely with the England and Somerset medical teams for his rehabilitation.
We're all with you, Leachy ❤️
Nobody braver than you 💪Jack Leach has been ruled out of the remainder of our Test series with India.#INDvENG | #EnglandCricket
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) February 11, 2024
