SOMERSET fans and players are dismayed that local hero Jack Leach, the leading spin bowler in the country in 2016, has been overlooked once again by the England selectors, writes Richard Walsh.

In the autumn, Surrey’s Zafar Ansari was preferred to Leach when the initial tour party was announced.

Now Ansari has suffered a back injury, the selectors have turned to Hampshire’s Liam Dawson.

Somerset cricket boss Matt Maynard said: “The one thing England need to do is take 20 wickets to win a Test match and what Jack has shown last year with five five-fers to his name is he can take wickets on a turning wicket.

“However, he also has the ability to take wickets at Lord’s where the conditions were unresponsive and he still claimed five wickets.”

Last season, Leach took 65 Championship wickets, including five hauls of five wickets, two of those at Lord’s and Headingley, while Dawson claimed only 20 with a best of 4-100.

Maynard added: “Jack is a very skilful bowler and I think he has been very unlucky.

“I’m not sure what kind of a player they are looking for – maybe more of an all-rounder, which both Ansari and Dawson are – or are they looking for someone who is going to get a five-fer and spin them to success?”

Leach is currently out in Dubai with the England Lions.

Maynard said: “Jack will be disappointed and we are disappointed for him because he had a really good summer last year.

“However, I’m sure Jack will take the positive out of it and he is really good like that.

“You never quite know what the England selectors are looking for, but Jack really impressed and he is used to bowling sides out and coping with the pressure to do that, so it’s a bit of a mystery.”

Leach’s Somerset team-mates clearly had their man’s back. 

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