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England Test captain Ben Stokes confirmed that left-arm spinner Jack Leach has been ruled out of the second Test against India in Vizag. The Three Lions took the cricketing world by storm after registering a comeback win in the opening fixture of the five-Test series from a dire position.
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For England, vice-captain Ollie Pope stepped up and scored a magnificent 196 in the second innings before debutant Tom Hartley ran through the Indian batting lineup with figures of 7-62 to give England a historic win. In this stunning effort, Leach failed to make a massive impact after injuring his knee while fielding on Day 1 as he managed to pick up two wickets across both innings.
He's ruled out of the second Test: Ben Stokes on Leach
Ahead of the second Test, Ben Stokes revealed that Leach will not be available for selection. The England captain said, "He's ruled out of the second Test," Stokes said. "Unfortunately, the knock he took resulted in a haematoma in his leg. It's a big shame for us, a big shame for Jack, obviously after a long time out of the game with his back.
"To sustain that injury, first game back, obviously it's frustrating. But it's something we're assessing every day. The medical team have taken over that, and hopefully, it's not something that's too serious and keeps him out for longer in the series," Stokes added.
Stokes backs Shoaib Bashir ahead of possible Test debut
The England captain was also asked about uncapped spinner Shoaib Bashir, who could play his first international game for England in Vizag. Responding to the query, Stokes backed the Somerset youngster to have the best experience if he is picked in the playing XI for the second Test.
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Stokes said, "If he was to play on this tour, then the great thing he has on his side is, what is there to lose? That is how I will be thinking about it if he gets the chance to play: just to make sure I can give him the best experience I possibly can. Because you only play your first Test match once. If he does play, then I will be trying to make it as enjoyable and fun for him as I can."
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