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Jack Leach looks to have played his last Test for England after national selector Marcus North confirmed they were heading in a “different direction”.
The 35-year-old left-armer has taken 142 wickets in his 39 caps and has not played in two years, despite remaining one of the most reliable performers on the county circuit.
Despite being usurped by Shoaib Bashir, he still played all three Tests when England last toured the sub-continent, taking 16 wickets across three games in Pakistan, and harboured hopes of forcing his way back in for the two-match series on the turning pitches of Bangladesh next February.
Yet he was not included in an expanded list of 30 players offered central contacts by the England and Wales Cricket Board this week, with Bashir and Rehan Ahmed both named, while three other spinners – James Coles, Mason Crane and Liam Patterson-White – were among an additional group on developmental deals.
North has reiterated the intention to choose from that list, all but drawing a line under Leach, who became a cult figure with fans for his famous one not out supporting Ben Stokes’ Ashes miracle at Headingley in 2019.
“Look at the contracts we’ve put out there – I would the see the Liam Patterson-Whites, the Mason Cranes, the Rehans, the Bashirs all getting opportunities over the coming months,” North told the Wisden.
“There no question that Jack Leach (can perform)…we’ve seen him at international level with England and he continues to do extremely well with Somerset. But as it stands now, these selections on the development contract and central contract list shows we’re focusing on a slightly different direction.”
Leach’s control and economy rate still place him among the best slow bowlers England has to offer, but both he and Bashir offer more limited value with the bat and in the field compared to the the likes of Crane, Coles, Patterson-White and Ahmed.
“When it comes to have that selection around Bangladesh, we’ve got all options on the table,” said North.
“That’s where we want to get to, to have the depth where we can have some really good, robust discussions around the type of skillsets we’re looking for. How much are they specialist spinners? How much do they bring with the bat?”
England’s winter schedule begins with an ODI tri-series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka later this month, before a white-ball leg in Australia.
Tests and ODIs in South Africa follow either side of Christmas, with two Tests in Bangladesh and a one-off day/night game against Australia in Melbourne to come in 2027.
