NEW DELHI:
England
's seasoned spinner
Jack Leach
is poised to sit out the upcoming
second Test
against India in
Visakhapatnam
, commencing on Friday. This decision stems from a left knee injury that Leach sustained during the series-opener in Hyderabad.
Absent from the team's training session on Wednesday, Leach was observed receiving treatment from the physio on the sidelines, indicating the severity of his injury and the need for a break from the upcoming match.
His absence will be a notable loss for the English side, given his experience and skills as a spinner.
"He's a tough kid, Leachy. So, I am not sure. You never know with Jack. You can never really write him off. We'll see how he pulls up in a couple of days," opener
Zak Crawley
said at the media conference on Wednesday.
Leach suffered a left knee injury while fielding on the first day of the Hyderabad Test, which England won by 28 runs. Despite the discomfort, he displayed resilience, bowling 26 overs in the first innings and 10 in the second, despite noticeable bruising and swelling around the affected joint.
Leach was seen limping during the training session on Wednesday, prompting the decision to rest him for the upcoming second Test in Visakhapatnam.
The absence of Leach opens the door for off-spinner Shoaib Bashir, who had joined the team late in Hyderabad due to visa-related issues, to potentially make his Test debut.
Crawley expressed confidence in Bashir's abilities and is hopeful that if given the opportunity, the off-spinner will perform well in the upcoming match.
"He is a great kid. He has got a lot about him. He knows what he is trying to do with his bowling and he backs himself. I like that and feel like if he got his chance in this series he would go well."
(With PTI inputs)
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