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...
Words cannot explain! So so happy for the π°! Good luck leachy πͺ https://t.co/Q80OGJQMzU
β tom abell (@tomabell1) March 29, 2018
Proud day! Best of luck @jackleach1991 absolutely delighted for you! Love it π₯
β Jos Buttler (@josbuttler) March 29, 2018
Couldnβt be any happier for this guy! Works so hard!! A true professional and role model! THE NUT π°π° https://t.co/DxSSSp14r4
β Dom Bess (@DomBess99) March 30, 2018
Couldnβt be prouder and happier for this guy, so well deserved π go well and enjoy bud @jackleach1991 https://t.co/viUTE4xbwd
β Tim Groenewald (@timmyg12) March 29, 2018
Extremely pleased for @jackleach1991 !!! Thatβs a very well deserved Test debut! #GoodLuckLad!!! #BrianCharles
β Maximilian Waller (@MaxTCWaller) March 29, 2018
You absolute beauty!!!! π so happy for this bloke... the first of many test caps! #Nutflix&chill π° https://t.co/edcx6dvqX3
β Adam Hose (@adamhose21) March 29, 2018
Everyone at Somerset County Cricket Club would like to wish @jackleach1991 all the very best for his Test debut!
β Somerset Cricket π (@SomersetCCC) March 29, 2018
Jack, you embody everything that our great Club is about and thoroughly deserve this opportunity π #WeAreSomerset pic.twitter.com/DIOwmh4DqE
Well done to Keith Woodman and all in the youth section followed by @BishopFoxsPE @somersetcb and @SomersetCCC !! Loads of coaches and loads of volunteers all the way along from a 5 year old to this famous day in his life!! #LeachweLovehim @Chance2Shine now!! ππππ pic.twitter.com/cWG8jgZHdK
β Taunton Deane CC π (@tauntondeanecc) March 29, 2018
Jack Leach, Test cricketer... Has a good ring to it!! Go well @jackleach1991 youβve earnt this! π€π°
β Lloyd Alley (@lloyd_alley89) March 29, 2018
Yes π° ππππ. Enjoy bud. Take it all in. @jackleach1991 @englandcricket #Debut #FullyDeserved
β matt maynard (@mattmaynard25) March 29, 2018
Good luck to @jackleach1991 on test debut tonight. A great lad who fully deserves his chance. A proud night for our town & for all @tauntondeanecc ! Go well.
β Kevin Parsons (@KevinParsons7) March 29, 2018
Congratulations to Taunton's own @jackleach1991 on his test debut #684 ππΌπ₯
β SCCC Barmy Army π (@SCCCbarmyarmy) March 29, 2018
Massive congratulations to @jackleach1991 on selection for @englandcricket side in debut test. Reward for all your hard work. Well done also to @SomersetCCC & @tauntondeanecc for helping develop a #Taunton born, international cricketer
β Simon Cutler (@SCutlerIFA) March 29, 2018
Congrats to @jackleach1991 makes me smile to see how happy the whole of Taunton and particularly my old club @tauntondeanecc are at his debut. Have a cider for me boys, unable to toast here in KSA!
β Martyn Salt (@Inevent1) March 29, 2018
What a journey the π₯ has been on! Has absolutely earned this opportunity, an incredibly proud day for all in Taunton and @SomersetCCC #daretodream
β Jason Kerr (@JKerr548) March 29, 2018
After initial reaction, my reflection is so pleased for @jackleach1991 heβs been through so much but never faltered or moaned just kept going, it doesnβt seem that long ago a little boy from Trinity School came to the county ground to do some cricket! #NZvENG #proudday
β Pete Sanderson (@bigphil7) March 29, 2018
For a round-up of day one in Christchurch and the latest on the progress of fellow Somerset spinner Dom Bess, click here.
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