Monday, September 15th, 2014

Leach Heading Down Under To Play For North Canberra This Winter

Leach Heading Down Under To Play For North Canberra This Winter

Worcestershire all-rounder Joe Leach is heading to Australia this winter to play for North Canberra Cricket Club.

Leach is following opening batsman Richard Oliver and England Under-19 wicket-keeper Joe Clarke in playing Down Under once the county season has come to an end.

He had previously had a spell playing club cricket in Auckland.

Leach has played a key part in Worcestershire's LV = County Championship promotion campaign after replacing Gareth Andrew following his back problem.

He has picked up 33 wickets at 27.45 runs apiece including a career best 5-36 against Kent at Tunbridge Wells.

Leach has also scored 408 runs at 24.00 including three fifties in the last four innings batting at number seven or eight.

He was part of a vital century stand with Jack Shantry in the promotion clinching win over Surrey.

Leach said: "I'm going to play for North Canberra Cricket Club. I'll be trying to string together all-round performances over there.

"I'll be batting up the order over there and that will give me a chance to get some runs and hopefully take wickets.

"This will be my first time playing for them. It gives you that extra experience playing abroad.

"You've got to constantly find ways to improve and going overseas, that's hopefully what the lads including myself are trying to do."

Oliver is to play for Geelong and Clarke for South Perth with all three Worcestershire players returning by the start of March to prepare for the new county campaign.