Even as Somerset’s seamers dominated, how nice was it just to see Jack Leach playing cricket again?

SAM DALLING AT NEW ROAD: Since cricket returned, he has spent most of his time in the England bubble. Some of the quicks were allowed to dip out and get some overs through the legs but Leach was stuck carrying jumpers alongside James Bracey

Rumour has it that Sir David Attenborough has been stalking New Road these past few days. No one saw him but then again that’s his modus operandi. Hover in the background and let nature take its course.

His task? Catch a glimpse of the lesser spotted Matthew Jack Leach. Planet Earth wants the footage. Attenborough’s excitement would have peaked at 11.34am.

The left-arm spinner was into the attack for the first time in a competitive contest since November 24, 2019.

A slightly different setting to the Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui but nevertheless the Somerset man will have been delighted. He got through just eight overs and ended wicketless, but that will quickly be forgotten.

As will the simple grab he shelled at slip the ball before lunch; Jake Libby given a lifeline. Being out there on the pitch in whites; that’s what its all about.

Just over a year has passed since he made the finest unbeaten single in history on that glorious Bank Holiday Sunday at Headingley. How the world has changed. The England star endured a horrid winter. But he’s a fighter and it’s a good thing too.

At the back end of the New Zealand tour he contracted sepsis. It was life-threatening at one point. Then he was laid up through illness for the South Africa trip.

After a scare with a calf injury, he made it Sri Lanka only for the world to come grinding to a halt after the warm-up game at Colombo.

^{Jack Leach has endured a long summer of carrying drinks for England}

Since cricket returned, he has spent most of his time in the England bubble. Some of the quicks were allowed to dip out and get some overs through the legs but Leach was stuck carrying jumpers alongside James Bracey. The pair were the longest serving without meaningful action.

It seemed odd to some he wasn’t in the Test side. Many would argue he’s currently England’s best spinner, although Moeen Ali would rightfully argue the point. But he lost out to Somerset teammate Dom Bess, preferred for his all-round game.

Make no mistake, Bess is a good bowler. He’ll be a fine bowler one-day and he’s been dealt a tough hand; how many 23-year-old spinners are asked to learn their trade in Test cricket?

Of his 47 first-class appearances, 10 have been Test matches. By comparison Graeme Swann had more than 160 red-ball games under his belt before his Test bow.

But right now, Leach is well ahead of the curve. Not a huge turner of the ball, but he offers both threat and relentless accuracy. And Somerset know it; he’s their man.

That much is clear. The worst keep secret in English cricket was Bess’ impending departure. That’s a sign of success for Jason Kerr and the county though; better to have too much talent than too little.

It was always going to be difficult to keep hold of a youngster who only a couple of summers ago went from a half century on Test debut at Lord’s to the county second team within a few weeks.

Leach is a Taunton boy; schooled in the town and a product of Taunton Deane Cricket Club. He has an endearing nature.  Perhaps because he doesn’t take himself too seriously and makes fans dream they too could be out there. In some senses, he’s a bit of a throwback.

^{Leach's last Somerset appearance was 12 months ago}

Believe it or not in his early 20s there was no certainty that he would cut the mustard in domestic cricket.

After a debut against Cardiff MCCU in 2012, he was in and out of the side, making 17 appearances across four seasons. Both Abdur Rehman and George Dockrell were ahead of him in pecking order.

Then things fell into place at the back end of the 2015, with 7 for 106 in the first innings and 4 for 74 in the second in a September clash with Warwickshire at Edgbaston. Not quite Jeetan Patel’s 7 for 38 in the same game but few can match him.

Leach helped himself to 68 County Championship wickets in 2016 and followed it up with 53 a year later. England came knocking and he did all right on his maiden tour. But he suffered a blow ahead of the 2018 season when a broken thumb in practice giving Bess the chance to queue jump.

He wrestled his spot back in Sri Lanka that winter and was first choice during the Ashes last year. Now he’s the understudy once more.

Who knows what comes next? The sense is that he will be handy on the subcontinent, and that looks the best bet for action over the next six months. Whether he’s one for a tour of Australia is less certain.

He may come into it when Worcestershire bat again but despite his lack of involvement, this one looks like tipping Somerset’s way. Worcestershire cruised through the opening two sessions, albeit with rain forcing an early tea.

But this Somerset attack won’t be kept down, and post-tea they rattled through the hosts. 123 for 1 at the start of the session, all out for 200 before the close.

This was the first batting point they’ve conceded in the Bob Willis Trophy. By the close, Somerset’s lead was 67 with nine wickets in hand. Winner takes all, with only the winner of the group going any further. Lord’s beckons.

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