India vs England 2021: ‘It’s about sticking to your strengths’ – Jack Leach wary of ‘complicating things’ on maiden India tour
Follow Us
Jack Leach
The leg trap has come into the spotlight after India successfully executed in Australia. But down the memory lane, the Indians were one of the first sides to be on the receiving end of it. Back in 2001, Nasser Hussain enforced it with the left-arm spin of Ashley Giles against Sachin Tendulkar in 2001. Giles bowling to a packed on-side field to the right-handers and targeting the leg-stump area. He got six wickets in two Tests with an economy of less than two runs per over.
This time around, Joe Root has the services of Jack Leach at his disposal. When quizzed if the tourists might go for the leg trap, Leach didn’t rule out the possibility. He asserts that he would like to stick to his strengths on his maiden India tour. But adds that there is a possibility of deploying the possibility of applying Giles leg trap if push comes to shove.
“It could be, definitely. That’s something we talked about in Sri Lanka; changing our angles… Speaking to Joe Root; something that he found very helpful bowling over the wicket. I prefer to bowl round the wicket. I feel I have got more dismissals in play (from round the wicket) and I don’t want to change something just because someone else did it. I think it’s about sticking to your strengths. But it might be something that we can use at some point for sure,” Leach said in a virtual conference.
Playing in Sri Lanka is a good experience
The visitors are coming off a great of Sri Lanka and Leach hailed it as great preparation for the high profile clash. He is glad to have bowled some quality players of spin before facing India in their backyard.
“Yaa we have been watching a lot of analysis of Indian batter. So, yaa getting to know how they play. I think they will gonna cause a problem I guess. I had that experience in Sri Lanka with guys like Angelo Mathews. I guess playing in Sri Lanka and in playing in those wickets is a good experience to draw on so soon,” said Jack.
In 2012, during England’s Test series-winning campaign, Monty Panesar’s quick left-arm spin proved very effective. He bowled scalped a staggering 17 wickets in three Tests. But Leach reiterated that he would like to bowl at his own pace and not complicate things.
“Monty bowled an amazing pace, strong pace (that) on the spinning wickets can be very tricky. For me, I’m probably not going to be bowling at the same speed.”
“I think it’s mainly about sticking to what I do well and knowing that I have had the experience of bowling to very good batters in the world so I don’t want to complicate things much. Obviously, I am aware of their strengths and I’m gonna be sticking about what I do best,” he added.
Stay Updated!
Anshuman Mahapatra
(1496 Articles Published)