Hampshire spinner Jack Leach replaces injured Mason Crane for Test series

A serious stress fracture to the back has kept Mason Crane out of the Test series against the Kiwis.

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Jack Leach
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Jack Leach of England. (Photo by Will Russell/Getty Images)

After beating the Kiwis in the ODI series 3-1, England is set to take on the hosts in a 2-match Test series which starts on 22nd March. 26-year-old spinner Jack Leach has been called up to the national side for the first time after Mason Crane was ruled out of the series following a lower back stress fracture.

Chris Silverwood, England bowling coach on Friday said that the bowler will fly home following the results of the scans which reported that he has a partial stress fracture of the back. Silverwood said that the bowler was really upset as he will miss the series against New Zealand as well as the few games in the domestic season for Hampshire.

“The scan results have shown he has a partial stress fracture of the back, we’ve caught it relatively early so unfortunately, he’s going home. Like anybody would be, he’s a little bit upset he’s going home but that’s life and part and parcel of professional sport,” said Silverwood.

Mason represented the English side in only one game during England‘s Ashes campaign. Crane could only manage 1 wicket in the fifth Test as the Australians sealed the series by winning the final Test.

He took to Twitter to wish the English side well while suggested that he will return better and stronger.

Might have to wait for the debut

Crane’s replacement Leach has been in tremendous form. The bowler took 17 wickets in the three unofficial Tests against Windies A for England Lions. Leach had an impressive county season last time where he bagged 51 wickets at an average of 25.78 in the 14 games.

With Moeen Ali in the side, one would expect that he will have to wait a little bit before he represents the English side.

England is set to play their first ever day-night game in New Zealand when they take the field on 22nd March. Apart from the replacement of Crane, another addition to the side will be star all-rounder Ben Stokes who will represent the England team in whites for the first time after his Bristol pub saga.

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