TAUNTON was bursting with pride last night (Thursday) when news filtered through that Jack Leach was to make his Test match debut for England against New Zealand.

It has been a journey full of ups and downs for theΒ 26-year-old, who has bounced back from re-modelling his action last winter to become the first Somerset spinner to play for England since Ian Blackwell in 2006.

Leach, who attended Trinity School and Bishop Fox's School in Taunton and came through the ranks at Taunton Deane Cricket Club, is a popular figure both among the Somerset faithful and on the wider county circuit as the following messages show.

We'll begin with Somerset captain Tom Abell, who summed up the feelings of many...

For a round-up of day one in Christchurch and the latest on the progress of fellow Somerset spinner Dom Bess, click here.