AFP, Leeds :
Jack Leach put his cult hero status down to looking like a “village cricketer” after his key supporting role enabled Ben Stokes to steer England to a staggering victory in the third Ashes Test.
England were 286-9, still needing 73 more runs to reach a victory target of 359 when last man Leach walked out to bat at Headingley on Sunday.
Already something of a crowd favourite, the bespectacled and balding Leach held firm as all-rounder Stokes, who was 61 not out when joined in the middle by the left-arm spinner, blazed his way to an astounding unbeaten 135 that saw England to a one-wicket win that levelled the five-match series at 1-1.
