How do England replace the injured Jack Leach?

Jack Leach might not be a walking embodiment of England’s brand of cricket under Ben Stokes but he is one of the hardest players to replace in the current England set-up.

Leach is highly valued by Stokes and is one of just five ever-presents in the Stokes-McCullum era. He is England’s joint leading wicket-taker under Stokes, the bowler with the most five-wicket hauls and has bowled 179 overs more than anyone else for England since Stokes took up the captaincy at the start of the 2022 summer. His raw numbers are not spectacular but he fills a vital function for Stokes’ side.

There are several avenues England could go down when it comes to replacing Leach, but none are straightforward, especially considering the ongoing fitness concerns around Stokes himself. Here are the main three options:

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