Joe Leach has played his part in helping England prepare for their current Tri-Series with Australia and India Down Under – and earned glowing praise from their assistant coach Paul Farbrace.
The Worcestershire all-rounder bowled in the nets to county colleague Moeen Ali and all the other England players during the squad's week long stay in Canberra when they played two warm-up matches against an ACT X1 and Prime Minister's X1.
Former Kent and Middlesex keeper Farbrace, who guided Sri Lanka to the 2014 ICC World T20 title, said: "Joe Leach joined in the England training sessions in Canberra on pretty much every day we were there.
"He has a great attitude to improving his game, and worked hard to get as much from each session as he could.
"Moeen had been in touch with him about joining up. He knows James Taylor from school days, and has played against a quite a few of the lads.
"He fitted in really well and impressed with his attitude and commitment."
Leach is playing in Australia this winter for North Canberra Gungahlin and has followed up his fine 2014 season at New Road by making major contributions with bat and ball.
Worcestershire assistant coach Matt Mason said: "Joe is doing wonderfully well over in Australia at the moment.
"We got a fantastic message from Paul Farbrace with England, with Joe bowling against them all week.
"He couldn't speak more highly of Joe which was great for us to hear.
"England were in Canberra for a week, where Joe is playing, and Joe went in and bowled to them every day.
"It is very nice to hear an England coach take the time to write a complimentary email like that about Joe and how well he did which I thought was a great thing for us and for Joe."
Leach will be looking to build next summer on his success in 2014 when he scored several crucial half centuries and picked up 33 LV = County Championship wickets after replacing the injured Gareth Andrew in the all-rounder slot in May for the remainder of the season.
Mason said: "He leapt forward for us with bat and ball. He showed us he is a capable batter but his bowling was outstanding at times.
"He is very ambitious and works hard.
"It's a big year for Joe. He has had a breakthrough year, now you've got to sort of establish yourself and hopefully he will do that."
