I feel like I’m just loving playing for England, the most I’ve ever loved it – Jack Leach
Jack Leach was in disbelief at achieving 100 Test wickets, regarding the feat as more than he felt he’d ever achieve and something he did not think “would ever happen” on the day he turned into the 49th England bowler to pass the milestone.
Jack Leach was in disbelief at achieving 100 Test wickets, regarding the feat as more than he felt he’d ever achieve and something he did not think “would ever happen” on the day he turned into the 49th England bowler to pass the milestone.
The left-arm spinner took 4 for 98 on the second day of the Multan Test, as Pakistan were dismissed for 202 in their first innings. However, He became the 13th left-arm spinner to register 100 wickets for his country.
“I did know coming into the game I needed a couple of wickets,”
Leach said at stumps, with England’s lead at 281 with five second-innings wickets remaining.
“It was a nice feeling. The boys were always really happy for me. I was just pleased to get a wicket in that situation of the game.
“I just felt like, I don’t know, 100 wickets feel like quite a lot. And it’s more than I felt I’ll ever achieve. I need to remember that. As sportsmen and as people, it’s easy to just push on to the next thing and the next thing and the next thing, and nothing’s ever enough.”
“But if you told me that when I was a kid that I’d take 100 wickets, I would have laughed at you. So yes, it is special.”
“I’m just loving playing for England, the most I’ve ever loved it. And it’s because it’s all about the team, it’s not about me. And that’s a special feeling”
He nearly missed the first Test of this series in Pakistan with sickness, succumbing to the infection that affected the majority of the playing squad and staff ahead of the opening match in Rawalpindi.
He pulled through, taking three in the match, including the winning wicket at the end of day five to secure one of England’s most audacious victories in the format.
“I wouldn’t think it would have been possible, just probably health-wise more than anything. I was quite close to not playing the first Test. There’re lots of different challenges. I’m aware everyone has their challenges, I’m aware mine have been quite out there. That’s good because I want to be open and honest with people. There’ve been some definite lows along the way, but it does sort of make it all worth it.”
“Ben and Baz [McCullum] have a lot to do with that,”
he said when asked about his surer footing at the international level.
“But I think also just I’ve probably been learning on the job in Test cricket. I feel like I’m getting better and better, and learning more and more. It’s nice to feel like I’m in control of what I’m doing. It feels good. Because if we’re winning lots of games, then everything kind of takes care of itself.
“I can’t believe it. I didn’t think that would ever happen, so it’s a nice, big milestone to get to.”
As for where he goes from here:
“Just try and get another 100 now, I guess?”
