Tuesday 20 December 2016 19:52, UK
Jack Leach revealed he was "shocked" when the legality of his bowling action was called into question but is confident a slight modification will boost his career.
It emerged on Tuesday morning that Leach was overlooked as a mid-tour call-up to India, despite being an obvious choice after taking 65 County Championship wickets last season, due to concerns over his slow left-arm action.
England instead selected Liam Dawson, who replaced the injured Zafar Ansari, and the Hampshire all-rounder made his Test debut in Chennai, where England were beaten by an innings and 75 runs as they succumbed to a 4-0 series defeat.
Somerset spinner Leach, meanwhile, has been honing an amended action after tests at the end of the season in Loughborough ahead of an England Lions training camp in Dubai flagged up concerns.
"When I did the test and they told me, I was as shocked as anyone," said Leach, who has worked with the England and Wales Cricket Board's Peter Such and Somerset bowling coach Jason Kerr in tinkering with his action.
"It was only a very small thing in terms of my body position and it wasn't helping me bowl a doosra or anything like that. After that I just worked hard to be honest."
The 25-year-old debuted his new action earlier this month in a one-day match against the United Arab Emirates in Dubai, where he took three for seven in 6.2 overs, and followed it up in the four-day game against Afghanistan in Abu Dhabi.
He added: "I've made a hell of a lot of progress and I was pleased with the way it went out in the UAE.
"The important thing is that I've come to terms with it and I feel like I'm going to be a better bowler in the future for sorting it out."
Somerset director of cricket Matthew Maynard is similarly relieved that the issue has been quickly resolved and sees no reason why Leach cannot represent England in the future.
He said: "Jack had a tremendous season for Somerset and is an outstanding player and team member. Whilst he was picked up for a minor abnormality in his bowling action during routine testing at the end of the season, this was quickly addressed with remedial work.
"I have every confidence that he will be playing for England in the future and that there is no major issue with his bowling action."
Such, the ECB's lead spin bowling coach, added: "Jack really has worked like a Trojan since the initial assessment. He's only made slight modifications but they make a big difference, and we've seen really significant progress."
