Jack Leach reflects on the ‘bad memories’ of England’s last tour of New Zealand in 2019

Jack Leach received a stark reminder on Tuesday of the misfortune that befell him the last time England played in New Zealand when he checked into the same Hamilton hotel where he fell seriously ill three years ago.

This time, however, he is determined to carve out only positive memories of the final stop of two Tests on England’s extraordinary tour.

So ill did Leach, who suffers from Crohn’s disease, become after contracting sepsis on the eve of the second test drawn here in 2019 that he feared for his life.

“It was food poisoning, but it turned into sepsis and because the drug I take for Crohn’s disease weakens my immune system, it really attacked my body and I couldn’t fight it,” Leach said before the season opener’s warm-up game. Wednesday tour with a pink ball at Seddon Park.

“He was on a drip at the hospital and had antibiotics in the other arm. Little by little she got worse and worse and went on for some time. Those bad memories came back when I re-entered this hotel today, but that’s all in the past and I’m having too much fun to get sick again now!

Jack Leach returned to New Zealand after falling seriously ill with sepsis on tour in 2019

Leach has been a key part of the extraordinary journey of England’s red ball over the past 12 months.

The start of this final Test assignment of the winter epitomizes that playful approach introduced by Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum, initially against New Zealand last summer, which appears to have done much to revolutionize England’s Test fortunes.

They arrived in New Zealand last week and made a beeline for the party capital Queenstown, where Kiwi McCullum wanted to host them for four days of leisure, mostly playing golf, while enjoying each other’s company as a team.

England then traveled to Mount Maunganui, site of next week’s first day and night test, for three days of practice and arrived in Hamilton on Tuesday for what was to be the first of two two-day warm-up games against the local opposition.

Instead England will play only the first of those games on Wednesday and Thursday and have canceled the second in favor of a bit more practice and probably more golf. No naughty child nets for this England team but, as everything they’re touching at the moment is turning to gold, with nine thrilling wins from 10 Tests, it can hardly be described as an approach that’s letting them down.

“I feel like a very different person than I did the last time I came here, but that’s because of the environment I’ve been playing in,” Leach said.

“My condition has also been good, but Crohn’s disease can be related to stress, so maybe being more relaxed will have a positive effect on my health.” Let’s cross our fingers that it stays that way.

‘Bazball’ has certainly been good for Leach’s health within this England squad. He played in all the Tests last year and took 46 wickets, more than anyone else in Test cricket in the calendar year, with Stokes providing the confidence his game was lacking and making him a valuable member of the side.

Not even the rise of Rehan Ahmed, who at 18 became the youngest bowler in Test history to take a five-wicket haul on his debut in the last of three historic wins in Pakistan before Christmas, has prevented Leach from being the No. 1 spinner here.

He has maintained his place as England’s No. 1 spinner, despite the appearance of Rehan Ahmed (left)

The 31-year-old insisted he has enjoyed having the backing of England captain Ben Stokes.

“It’s been probably the biggest thing for me, that endorsement and the feeling that I belong here,” Leach said.

‘I know that at some point someone better than me may appear and take my place.

“That will be absolutely fair, so in the meantime I’m just trying to enjoy it as much as I can and do the best I can for the team.” I see things a little differently now. I’m enjoying how much fun it is to win games and I want to help us win those games.’