England selector Marcus North has indicated Jack Leach is unlikely to be recalled for the February Bangladesh tour, saying England are focusing on a 'slightly different direction' despite his 88 wickets at 21.73 for Somerset over two seasons.
Jack Leach has been the standout spinner in Division One of the County Championship for two seasons running, and England's selector has just told him it may not matter. Speaking on the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast, Marcus North indicated that Leach is unlikely to win a recall for the two-Test tour to Bangladesh in February, saying England are focusing on a "slightly different direction".
| At a glance | Detail |
|---|---|
| Player | Jack Leach, Somerset left-arm spinner, age 35 |
| England record | 39 Tests, 142 Test wickets |
| Last Test | Pakistan, late 2024; no England squad since |
| County form | 88 wickets at 21.73 for Somerset in Division One across the last two seasons |
| Next England assignments | Two Tests in Bangladesh in February; South Africa in December |
What Marcus North said
North did not question Leach's form. "We've seen him at international level with England. He continues to do exceptionally well at Somerset," he said. Then came the turn: "But as it stands now, those selections around the development contracts and the central contract list show that we're focusing on a slightly different direction."
The spinners England are backing instead
The direction is visible in the contract lists for the 2026-27 cycle. Shoaib Bashir and Rehan Ahmed have central contracts, while Mason Crane, James Coles and Liam Patterson-White have development contracts. Leach is on neither list.
Richard Dawson was also recently appointed as one of Stephen Fleming's new assistant coaches and as England's national spin-bowling lead, which adds to the sense that the spin plan is being built around a younger group.
A series won without a specialist spinner
England's first series since Ben Stokes' international retirement was a 3-0 win over Pakistan, played without a specialist spinner. Dan Lawrence and Joe Root bowled offbreaks while Bashir carried the drinks. It is hard to argue England were punished for the approach.
Bangladesh will test the balance
North was clear the February tour is not a formality. "They [Bangladesh] are a good cricket team now, a good Test team," he said. "It's not just going over there and facing good spinners; they've got some very good quicks, so we know that's going to be a good test. But we need to have a squad that can give us all options in those conditions as well." He said the tour will "challenge the current balance of the side".
North also addressed the selection puzzle created by Jacob Bethell's knee injury, where Emilio Gay, Jordan Cox, Dan Lawrence or Bethell himself could be left out of the South Africa squad for the December series. "It's going to be a tough call and tough decision, and that's exactly the place we want to be in," he said.
Is the door fully shut?
Not forever, on paper. Leach could come back into contention down the line, and England tour India for five Tests in early 2028. But with the contracts, the coaching appointment and the February squad all pointing elsewhere, his England career looks finished for now, even as he keeps taking wickets at the top level of the county game.
The story comes from ESPNcricinfo's report by Matt Roller. Read the full piece on ESPNcricinfo. ESPNcricinfo.
Original interview: the Wisden Cricket Weekly podcast, Marcus North episode, published 14 October 2026. Wisden.
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