England spinner Jack Leach ruled out of the remainder of Test series due to knee injury
England have suffered a major setback ahead of the third Test in Rajkot as left-arm Spinner Jack Leach has been ruled out of the series due to knee injury.
“England and Somerset spinner Jack Leach has been ruled out of the rest of England Men’s Test tour of India with a left knee injury,” The English Cricket Board said in a statement.
Leach sustained the injury during England’s first Test victory in Hyderabad and missed the second Test in Vizag as a result. Leach was able to bowl 26 overs in the first innings, but could only send down 10 in the second. He was still able to dismiss Shreyas Iyer, as England sealed victory by 28 runs.
The 32-year-old will fly home from Abu Dhabi in the next 24 hours, where the England team have been staying ahead of the third Test in Rajkot, which starts on Thursday.
England confirmed they will not be calling up a replacement for Leach.
“Leach will work closely with the England and Somerset medical teams in respect of his rehabilitation. England will not be calling up a replacement.”
In Leach’s absence the collective experience of the England spinners will be only six. England will be banking on the young trio of Rehan Ahmed, Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir for the rest of the series.
The England team will arrive back in India on Monday ahead of their first training session on Tuesday at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot.
