In a big jolt for England, the Ben Stokes-led team’s spinner Jack Leach has been ruled out of the remainder of the IND vs ENG Test series. Jack Leach has failed to recover from a knee injury suffered during the IND vs ENG 1st Test and will not be able to take further part in the 5-match Test series, ECB confirmed in a statement. The statement also added that the team will not be calling in a replacement.
On the first day of the first Test in Hyderabad, the left-arm spinner hurt his left knee while fielding when he dove to stop a boundary and struck the ground. The next morning, he made the injury worse.
The injury made the movement of the spinner restricted, and Leach could only bowl 10 overs in the 2nd innings. He was ruled out of the IND vs ENG 2nd Test, which England lost.
It was initially thought that Leach would have more time to heal during the 10-day break in the series, but he was still doubtful for the third Test in Rajkot.
However, the England Cricket Board in statement on Sunday confirmed that the spinner has been ruled out of the series and will return home to undergo further treatment.
“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.
“He 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. Leach will work closely with the England and Somerset medical teams in respect of his rehabilitation. England will not be calling up a replacement,” the ECB statement said.
