Jack Leach fulfilled an ambition which was years in the making during England’s dominant second day against Sri Lanka, linking up with childhood friend Jos Buttler on the biggest stage of all.
The tourists had plenty of reasons to celebrate as they grabbed control of the first Test – from Ben Foakes adding two catches and a stumping to his memorable debut century to Moeen Ali’s four-wicket haul at Sri Lanka’s favourite spinning venue of Galle.
Throw in wickets for four other bowlers, 12 drama-free overs to start England’s second innings and a 177-run lead and there was much for the travelling fans to be satisfied about.
When you combine with your childhood mate to take a wicket for England… 😍 Scorecard: https://t.co/YWVcpEvENk#SLvENG pic.twitter.com/Wv6mlewW5O — England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 7, 2018
But for Leach it was a personal moment that drew the biggest release of emotion, Buttler hanging on at cover when Dilruwan Perera went after the slow left-armer – reprising a partnership first seen at Somerset Under-11s.
“I was just running at him shouting ‘caught Buttler, bowled Leach!’. Those were my exact words,” he said.
“That was a nice moment for me and I hope for him, as well. To be out there with him is something very special for me.
“It’s brilliant. We started at under-11s together. That would have been the first ever ‘caught Buttler, bowled Leach’. To be in an England shirt together is very special. It makes us proud and a lot of people back home proud as well.”
Leach started the day hoping to have the best seat in the house for Foakes’ hundred, walking to the middle with England 321 for eight and with the Surrey wicketkeeper 13 runs short of his landmark.
When Leach nicked to slip, Foakes still needed five more.
“I was gutted when I got out, I was desperate to get him over the line,” said Leach.
“I couldn’t do it but Jimmy Anderson did it so that’s fine. I was jumping up and down in the changing room when he got there.”
The lads loved watching Ben Foakes score that Test ton on debut! 👏 Scorecard: https://t.co/nYognKq4OY#SLvENG pic.twitter.com/INf3jyljI2 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 7, 2018
Reflecting on the moment he became the 20th England player to hit a hundred on debut, and only the second gloveman after Matt Prior, Foakes added: “When I hit that ball it was a relief to say the least.
“It’s a weird feeling, just so much relief. Joy and whatnot too, but just relief at finally doing something you set out to do as a kid. It was incredible.
“England have got so many good keepers I never thought I’d get a game to be honest… the last couple of years I probably didn’t think this would come.”
England will set about building an unimpeachable lead when day three gets under way, with Sri Lanka already facing an awkward fourth innings on a pitch prone to drastic deterioration.
How good has his debut been so far! 💯 Scorecard: https://t.co/9kQXm5uWB9#SLvENG pic.twitter.com/dpCIbt2app — England Cricket (@englandcricket) November 7, 2018
Keaton Jennings and Rory Burns are up first in the morning having already built a platform of 38 for nought, their task having been made easier by the efforts of the bowling unit, who hustled the hosts out for 203 in just 68 overs.
“It pretty much went to plan for us,” admitted Leach.
“We talked at the start of the day about trying to get as many runs as we could and when we went out to bowl just putting as much pressure on as possible.
“We felt we had a good total on the board and what Joe (Root, captain) asked of us, we pretty much did it.”
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