- Jack Leach not on England’s radar for Bangladesh tour. Test team “focusing in a slightly different direction” despite Somerset spinners reigning supreme at county level. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, all smiling after Pat Cummins’ dismissal. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, all smiles after Pat Cummins’ dismissal, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 5, sometimes even no.
- 6 Tilak Varma was creative, and got the results, India vs West Indies, 2nd T20I, Ranchi, October 9, 2026 Alzarri Joseph has been “withdrawn” to manage his workload while Hope was rested keeping the ODI World Cup qualifiers in February 2027 in mind Australia quick returns career-best figures to seal victory and emphasise why he remains on big three pedestal Josh Hazlewood took career-best figures of 6 for 49, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Durban, 5th day, October 13, 2026 Josh Hazlewood celebrates the wicket of Wiaan Mulder, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Durban, 5th day, October 13, 2026 SA vs Aus – Australia keep door open for shuffling between Nic Maddinson, Matt Renshaw and Travis Head Matt Renshaw fended to good effect, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 Let it go?
- Aiden Markram in the whole task, South Africa v Australia, 1st Test, Durban, Day 5, 13 October 2026. He had missed the first Test against Australia “as a precaution” but remained in the team and was shown bowling with increasing intensity Out vs Ban – Australia Bowl, Phoebe Litchfield out with hip problem; Bangladesh debut for Disha Biswas Australian wicketkeeper-batsman played her 100th ODI in the final match of the series against Bangladesh. Megan Schutt makes early breakthroughs for Australia, Australia v Bangladesh, 2nd Women’s ODI, Brisbane, October 11, 2026 “Qais paid absolutely no heed to my advice,” jokes Richard Pybus after number one.
Jack Leach not on England’s radar for Bangladesh tour. Test team “focusing in a slightly different direction” despite Somerset spinners reigning supreme at county level. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, all smiling after Pat Cummins’ dismissal. The three that matter: Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Jasprit Bumrah, all smiles after Pat Cummins’ dismissal, India vs Australia, World Cup, Chennai, October 8, 2023 5, sometimes even no.
6 Tilak Varma was creative, and got the results, India vs West Indies, 2nd T20I, Ranchi, October 9, 2026 Alzarri Joseph has been “withdrawn” to manage his workload while Hope was rested keeping the ODI World Cup qualifiers in February 2027 in mind Australia quick returns career-best figures to seal victory and emphasise why he remains on big three pedestal Josh Hazlewood took career-best figures of 6 for 49, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Durban, 5th day, October 13, 2026 Josh Hazlewood celebrates the wicket of Wiaan Mulder, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Durban, 5th day, October 13, 2026 SA vs Aus – Australia keep door open for shuffling between Nic Maddinson, Matt Renshaw and Travis Head Matt Renshaw fended to good effect, South Africa vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 2, Durban, October 10, 2026 Let it go? Aiden Markram in the whole task, South Africa v Australia, 1st Test, Durban, Day 5, 13 October 2026. He had missed the first Test against Australia “as a precaution” but remained in the team and was shown bowling with increasing intensity Out vs Ban – Australia Bowl, Phoebe Litchfield out with hip problem; Bangladesh debut for Disha Biswas Australian wicketkeeper-batsman played her 100th ODI in the final match of the series against Bangladesh. Megan Schutt makes early breakthroughs for Australia, Australia v Bangladesh, 2nd Women’s ODI, Brisbane, October 11, 2026 “Qais paid absolutely no heed to my advice,” jokes Richard Pybus after number one. 9-batter produced his big shots at a time when another wicket would have cost Afghanistan dearly. Sediqullah Atal became the first Afghan batsman to record a century in the fourth innings, Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, Alone Test, Abu Dhabi, Day 4, October 12, 2026 “I think we drew the match due to minor errors,” Bangladesh ctain Shanto said after the toss in Abu Dhabi. Qais Ahmad hit three sixes despite batting to save the Test match, Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, only Test, Abu Dhabi, Day 5, October 13, 2026 Bangladesh’s missed opportunities, especially in the last hour, cost them dearly as they failed to grab the last two wickets. Sediqullah Atal plays defensively, Afghanistan vs Bangladesh, only Test, Abu Dhabi, Day 4, October 12, 2026 Kusal Mendis throws the ball into the leg side, Pakistan vs Sri Lanka, 3rd T20I, Rawalpindi, October. 13, 2026 Pasindu Sooriyabandara retains his place ahead of Lahiru Udara, while goalkeeper Anjala Bandara could make her debut. Pathum Nissanka scores first Test century at home, Sri Lanka v Bangladesh, 1st Test, Galle, Day 3, 19 June 2025 Set of six for Jack Leach Somerset prepare for two-day win, Somerset v Durham, County Championship, Taunton, 23 July. 2025 Jack Leach’s England career pears to be over after national coach Marcus North suggested he is unlikely to be recalled for the upcoming Test tour to Bangladesh despite his fine form for Somerset.
Leach, 35, played the last of his 39 Tests in Pakistan at the end of 2024 and has not played in an England team since. He has been the standout performer in the County Championship Premier Division for the last two seasons, taking 88 wickets at 21.73 for Somerset. But North has suggested he is unlikely to be recalled, even on the subcontinent, with England instead focusing on spinners who have been given central contracts (Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed) and development contracts (Mason Crane, James Coles and Liam Patterson-White) for the 2026-27 cycle.
Leach could still return to the competition later, with England set to tour India for five Tests in early 2028. But at the moment it looks unlikely that he will add to his 142 Test wickets. England did not choose a specialist spinner in their first series since Ben Stokes retired from the national team, relying on counterattacks from Dan Lawrence and Joe Root as Bashir came out on top in their 3-0 win over Pakistan.
They are expected to operate with a similar balance in their next Test series in South Africa in December. “They [Bangladesh] are a good cricket team now, a good Test team,” North said. “It’s not just about going out and playing against good spinners; they’ve got some really good quicks too, so we know it’s going to be a good test.”
But we need a team that can make life difficult for us under these conditions. “Although there was a fast bowling project, you will see that now there are a number of spin bowlers who have come into our system… that we can invest in,” he added. “Our goal is to reach the depth necessary to have really good, informed discussions about the type of skills we are looking for and the balance of the team.” The biggest dilemma for England’s squad in South Africa pears to be whether Jacob Bethell’s recovery from a knee injury will result in Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, Dan Lawrence or Bethell himself being left out of the squad, but North said no decision has been made at this stage: “It’s going to be a tough decision and that’s where we want to be.” Test team “focused in a slightly different direction” despite Somerset spinners dominating at county level. Six set for Jack Leach. Somerset prepare for two-day win, Somerset v Durham, County Championship, Taunton, July 23, 2025. Test team ‘focused in a slightly different direction’ despite Somerset spinners dominating at county level. Test team “focused in a slightly different direction” despite Somerset spinners dominating at county level. Test team “Focuses in a slightly different direction” despite Somerset spinner reigning supreme at county level. Test team “focuses in a slightly different direction, different” despite Somerset spinner reigning supreme at county level
