"It's really good for me", Jack Leach hopeful of thriving in challenging conditions
Jack Leach [Source: Twitter]
Continuing their dominant run in Test cricket, England demolished hosts New Zealand in the first Test in Mount Maunganui by a whopping 267 runs.
Ahead of the second Test in Wellington, English cricketer Jack Leach has explained how playing on unfriendly New Zealand tracks will help him evolve his spin bowling skills.
Elaborating on the matter, the left-arm orthodox bowler revealed how Ben Stokes continuously challenges him by exposing him to tricky playing conditions and situations, praising him for the same.
"It is really good for me as a spinner to experience these pitches, to keep working on my craft and working hard. Stokesy wants me to experience all different kinds of pitches and scenarios. The only way you can make improvements is by being exposed to situations you’re not used to. It’s great that the captain wants to challenge me. Hopefully these experiences really progress my development quickly."
Notably, England have managed to win all their last six Test fixtures. However, the 31-year-old reveals that the Englishmen are not concerned about sustaining their winning run, as overthinking it would keep them under the pump, preventing them from freely expressing themselves on the field.
"The mindset we’re in is just one game at a time and trying to play with nothing to lose. If we talk about records like that, then we kind of are playing with something to lose."
Meanwhile, Leach found it tough to get going in Mount Maunganui, scalping only two wickets in 29 overs across two innings. Nevertheless, the experienced tweaker will aim at redemption when he enters the field in the second Test beginning this Friday.
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