Joseph Leach (born 30 October 1990) is a former English cricketer who played for Worcestershire.[1] Leach was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm medium. He was born in Stafford, Staffordshire, and was educated at Shrewsbury School.[2]
 Leach in 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Joseph Leach | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 30 October 1990 Stafford, Staffordshire, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 6 ft 1 in (1.85 m) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Batting | Right-handed | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bowling | Right-arm medium-fast | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Relations | Steve Leach (brother) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Domestic team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | Leeds/Bradford MCCU | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2024 | Worcestershire (squad no. 23) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First-class debut | 31 March 2012 Leeds/Bradford MCCU v Surrey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last First-class | 26 September 2024 Worcestershire v Lancashire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| List A debut | 27 April 2012 Worcestershire v Lancashire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last List A | 27 August 2023 Worcestershire v Hamphsire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Career statistics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: EPSNcricinfo, 30 September 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Career
editLeach made his debut for Staffordshire against Buckinghamshire in the 2008 Minor Counties Championship.[citation needed] The following season he made a further appearance in that competition for the county, against Northumberland at Osborne Avenue, Jesmond.[3] He also made a single appearance in the MCCA Knockout Trophy in 2009 against Suffolk.[4] Leach joined Shropshire in 2010, making his debut for the county in the MCCA Knockout Trophy against Cumberland.[citation needed]
While studying French and Philosophy at the University of Leeds,[5] Leach made his first appearance for Leeds/Bradford MCCU in 2011.[6] The England and Wales Cricket Board conferred first-class status on Leeds/Bradford MCCU in 2012, with Leach making his first-class debut against Surrey at The Oval. In Surrey's first-innings of 385 all out, Leach took figures of 4/78 from thirteen overs, the best bowling figures of the innings. In Leeds/Bradford MCCU's first-innings response, Leach was dismissed for a duck by Tom Jewell. In their second-innings, he recorded his maiden first-class half century with a score of exactly 50, before being dismissed by Tim Linley. Leeds/Bradford MCCU narrowly lost the match by 2 runs.[citation needed]
Leach played grade cricket in ACT for North Canberra Gungahlin Cricket Club during 2016–2017 season.[citation needed]
He developed into a key member of Worcestershire's squad, becoming a first-team regular in 2015. In 2016 he was appointed county captain.[7]
In July 2024, Leach announced he would retire from professional cricket at the end of that year's English county season.[8] He ended his final season as Worcestershire's joint leading County Championship wicket-taker alongside Nathan Smith and Tom Taylor.[9]
References
edit- ^ "Joe Leach interview: From life in lockdown to the brink of Lord's | The Cricketer". thecricketer.com.
- ^ "Player profile: Joe Leach". CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- ^ "Minor Counties Championship Matches played by Joe Leach". CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- ^ "Minor Counties Trophy Matches played by Joe Leach". CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- ^ "Player profile: Joe Leach". mccuniversities.org. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- ^ "Miscellaneous Matches played by Joe Leach". CricketArchive. Retrieved 5 April 2012.
- ^ "Worcestershire: Joe Leach replaces Daryl Mitchell as county captain". BBC Sport. 28 September 2016. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
- ^ "Worcestershire's Leach to retire at end of season". BBC Sport. Retrieved 4 October 2024.
- ^ "LEACH ENDS FINAL SEASON AS JOINT LEADING WICKET-TAKER". Worcestershire County Cricket Club. Retrieved 4 October 2024.