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In the final moments of the first Test in Multan, a well-known character unexpectedly returned to the forefront after spending the summer on the sidelines and feeling as though his days in England were running out.
With a final-day four-for and seven wickets overall, Jack Leach upset the odds in a match that will go down in history for Harry Brook’s triple century and his historic 454-run partnership with Joe Root. That total is more than Pakistan’s entire attack managed during their own traumatic time on the pitch.
Leach’s match-winning performance of 7 for 190 in 46.5 overs during a five-day game of patience was, quite literally, what won the match; without it, Brook’s and Root’s efforts would have been nothing more than massive feats of stats-padding, rather than crucial components of one of England’s most memorable away victories.
Leach has also made similar contributions in the past. This most recent triumph was, astonishingly, his 11th in 14 Test matches played in Asia, making him the third most successful visiting player on the subcontinent, behind only Shane Warne (13), and his own teammate Root (12). His pivotal involvement in the 2018 victory in Sri Lanka marked the start of this streak, which has included 22 wickets in four straight victories in Pakistan on some of the most unforgiving pitches ever devised.
Even if it could be claimed that his injury-related absence from the latter stages of this year’s 4-1 loss in India improved his record in the area, the other side of that record is also noteworthy. Without Leach in their ranks, England has played 14 Test matches in Asia since 2014. They have only triumphed once, in 2016 against Bangladesh, and have lost the other eleven.
Leach’s return to England’s Test preparations was not certain, though, since the team’s current focus is on the 2025–2026 Ashes and finding a bowling attack that has the “attributes” necessary to succeed in Australia. One such bowler is Shoaib Bashir, who can drive the ball into the pitch with a release point so high that Leach cannot hope to equal it. Despite his seeming rawness, there has been some fast-tracking to support the decision to make such a selective punt in the first place.
“It’s been great to have Jack back in and around the squad,” Pope said. “You know exactly what you’re going to get from him as a bowler. He’s obviously a very experienced bowler. He’s taken a fair few Test wickets now, and played a lot of first-class cricket too. He’s been awesome to have back around.”
Woakes added: “For him to come back in and perform the way he has in this Test match is incredible. Again on a flat surface which didn’t offer much for the spinners either. It was amazing for him to do what he’s done – and just show his character but also his skill as well. He’s been there and done it a lot for England and to come back after a bit of time away after not being selected is an incredible effort.”