The spinners union unites – Leach reveals beer banter with Lyon
England’s new cult hero Jack Leach has revealed how Aussie counterpart Nathan Lyon declared the bespectacled one owes him a beer for the part he played in cultivating the myth of Leach via the bungled run-out opportunity at Headingley.
Leach put down his anchor with England’s Ashes hopes on the brink on that famous final day during the third Test, allowing Ben Stokes to bludgeon England to victory in spectacular fashion with 11 fours and eight sixes in an awe-inspiring 135 not out.
The tenth wicket partnership provided 76 runs in just 62 balls with Leach contributing just a solitary run, but his dogged survival at the other end provided the platform for England to square the series up going into the fourth Test at Old Trafford.
The narrative could’ve been so much different for both country and player, however, after Aussie chief wind-up merchant Nathan Lyon had fluffed his lines on a glorious opportunity to run Leach out with England requiring just two to win at the time.
READ: England should move on from Anderson and Broad axis – Vaughan
Now the man who has received a lifetime’s supply of free glasses from Specsavers has divulged what Lyon said to him as the England crowd serenaded Leach in the closing stages of the fifth Test.
“Yesterday, when I was batting at the end and over there [in the crowd] they were singing ‘stand up if you love Jack Leach’,” said Leach (via Wisden). “I just thought ‘what is going on?’”
“Nathan Lyon came over and said to me, ‘How many beers do you owe me [for the missed run-out]?’ I think I owe him a lot.
“Sport is fickle and I guess you have to enjoy the good moments and not get too down about the bad moments. I have had some luck as well. Hopefully you earn that luck through hard work, I will continue working hard.
“That was an experience for me, seeing how competitive Ashes cricket is. Nothing crossed a line, and fair play to both teams for playing in a great spirit.”
READ MORE ASHES
- Arbitrary Ashes numbers: 2.1million, 0, 37.6% and 350
- England conclude a historic summer’s cricket with the future bright
- Liebke and Bowden’s Ridiculous Ashes – Fifth Test: Mitch Marsh, No Balls, Steve Smith’s Human Frailty
Latest
-
-
NewsSteve Smith eligible for Australia captaincy again as ban expires
The suspension was connected to Smith’s sanction following the ball-tampering scandal.
-
NewsDad and daughter become cricket co-commentary stars in creative homeschooling
Professional commentator Mark Church says he is ‘hanging on the coattails’ of 10-year-old Isabelle.
-
UKAlastair Cook prepared to write off County Championship season
The former England captain would rather see the first-class competition abandoned altogether than played in a ‘meaningless’ form.
-
NewsDom Sibley admits he had doubts over his Test credentials after early struggles
Sibley came good and ended up finishing the series against South Africa as England’s top runscorer with 384 runs.
-
CricketOn this day in 1955: New Zealand dismissed for 26
The wickets tumbled in record time on March 28, 1955 when England bowled New Zealand all out for 26.
-
UKFoxes announce new chief executive
Sean Jarvis is swapping football for cricket after 14 years with Huddersfield Town.
-
Uk,World,IccICC board ponders key coronavirus questions
No firm conclusions have been reached at this early stage.
-
-
NewsCoronavirus checkpoints possible as ECB considers behind-closed-doors resumption
There will be no professional cricket until May 28 at the earliest.