Hampshire make plans to combat Jack Leach after being ripped apart by spin against Essex

Hampshire were left feeling dizzy in their last County Championship fixture when Essex’s offspin wizard Harmer claimed 12 wickets in the match to inflict a heavy five-session defeat on them

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Batsman Aneurin Donald has revealed Hampshire have put extra focus on practising against spin to ensure Jack Leach does not have the same effect as Simon Harmer.

Hampshire were left feeling dizzy in their last County Championship fixture when Essex’s offspin wizard Harmer claimed 12 wickets in the match to inflict a heavy five-session defeat on them.

But to combat a replica performance against Somerset's Leach, Hampshire have been trying a number of methods, including moving nets and tapping Indian Ajinkya Rahane for tips, to ensure they are not turned over again.

“We have also trained slightly more specifically for the spinning ball in case that comes out,” Donald said.

“It isn’t something we are used to. It comes around once every now and again and it showed that we weren’t ready for it against Essex.

“We aren’t sure it is going to be a massive spinning wicket down at Taunton but over the years they have had a reputation for preparing a few spicy ones every now and again.

“It is about covering our bases and if they do have two spinners on a turning wicket we are as prepared to play that as a normal county wicket.

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Nye Donald has revealed Hampshire's plans to combat spin against Somerset

“There are various ways to prepare for it. You can turn the nets around and bowling into the rough at the bowlers’ end and there are plenty of coaches here who have spent many an hour throwing down plenty of leg and off spinners.

“We have used Ajinkya who is a bit of an extra in that kind of case and we picked his brains about playing spin.

“Ajinkya talked about loads of things from footwork to general intent. It wasn’t exactly rocket science but you could see the way he spoke about it and how clear and confident he was.

“For him facing spin bowling is probably how most of us are like when the ball is moving around. We are used to that and we expect it.

 “We try and do everything we can and making sure we are aware of who we are going to come up against and making sure our game plans are clear when we get out there.”

Division One table-toppers Somerset were handed their first Championship defeat of the season this week as Essex thrashed them at Chelmsford.

Welsh batsman Donald admits that Hampshire will take confidence from that, with the Ageas Bowl-based county aiming to close the 27-point gap from the summit to third to reignite their title ambitions.

“No team in this league is unbeatable, that is what we took out of Somerset’s defeat to Essex,” Donald admitted.

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“When you look across the board there are some really strong teams, so it will be a race towards the top at the end of the season.

“Somerset are one of the better sides and don’t tend to miss out on England guys going away which leaves them with one of the strongest squads around.

“We are confident on our day we can take anyone down. I think in football terms this game is a bit of a six-pointer in the title race.”

Donald, who has started to become a regular in his debut season at Hampshire, has admitted his side need to be slightly wary of the potential emotion at Taunton after stalwart, and England great, Marcus Trescothick announced his retirement this week.

“A guy who has had that sort of a career is always going to have an effect on the club,” Donald said.

“He has given a lot to them and they have given a lot to him. We are aware of all that but we know what we have to do.

“At Taunton, the first thing you have to do is quieten the home crowd, so it is important to complete on the first morning and get a strong foothold in the game.”

Report courtesy of the ECB reporters network

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