Joe Leach

{{Infobox cricketer

| name = Joe Leach

| image = 2 07 Joe Leach.jpg

| caption = Leach in 2023

| country = England

| fullname = Joseph Leach

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1990|10|30|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Stafford, Staffordshire, England

| heightft = 6

| heightinch = 1

| family = Steve Leach (brother)

| batting = Right-handed

| bowling = Right-arm medium-fast

| club1 = Leeds/Bradford MCCU

| year1 = 2011–2012

| club2 = Worcestershire

| year2 = {{nowrap|2012–2024}}

| clubnumber2 = 23

| type1 = First-class

| debutdate1 = 31 March

| debutyear1 = 2012

| debutfor1 = Leeds/Bradford MCCU

| debutagainst1 = Surrey

| lastdate1 = 26 September

| lastyear1 = 2024

| lastfor1 = Worcestershire

| lastagainst1 = Lancashire

| type2 = List A

| debutdate2 = 27 April

| debutyear2 = 2012

| debutfor2 = Worcestershire

| debutagainst2 = Lancashire

| lastdate2 = 27 August

| lastyear2 = 2023

| lastfor2 = Worcestershire

| lastagainst2 = Hampshire

| columns = 3

| column1 = FC

| matches1 = 139

| runs1 = 3,990

| bat avg1 = 22.93

| 100s/50s1 = 2/23

| top score1 = 114

| deliveries1 = 23,516

| wickets1 = 477

| bowl avg1 = 26.91

| fivefor1 = 18

| tenfor1 = 1

| best bowling1 = 6/44

| catches/stumpings1 = 32/–

| column2 = LA

| matches2 = 59

| runs2 = 903

| bat avg2 = 28.21

| 100s/50s2 = 0/3

| top score2 = 88

| deliveries2 = 2,589

| wickets2 = 57

| bowl avg2 = 43.87

| fivefor2 = 0

| tenfor2 = 0

| best bowling2 = 4/30

| catches/stumpings2 = 21/–

| column3 = T20

| matches3 = 54

| runs3 = 261

| bat avg3 = 10.44

| 100s/50s3 = 0/0

| top score3 = 24

| deliveries3 = 849

| wickets3 = 52

| bowl avg3 = 26.05

| fivefor3 = 1

| tenfor3 = 0

| best bowling3 = 5/33

| catches/stumpings3 = 10/–

| date = 30 September

| year = 2024

| source = http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/player/355092.html EPSNcricinfo

}}

Joseph Leach (born 30 October 1990) is a former English cricketer who played for Worcestershire.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecricketer.com/Topics/news/lockdown_lords_joe_leach_summer_2020.html|title=Joe Leach interview: From life in lockdown to the brink of Lord's | The Cricketer|website=thecricketer.com}} Leach was a right-handed batsman who bowled right-arm medium. He was born in Stafford, Staffordshire, and was educated at Shrewsbury School.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/313/313142/313142.html|title=Player profile: Joe Leach|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=5 April 2012}}

Career

Leach made his debut for Staffordshire against Buckinghamshire in the 2008 Minor Counties Championship.{{cn|date=October 2024}} The following season he made a further appearance in that competition for the county, against Northumberland at Osborne Avenue, Jesmond.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/313/313142/Minor_Counties_Championship_Matches.html|title=Minor Counties Championship Matches played by Joe Leach|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=5 April 2012}} He also made a single appearance in the MCCA Knockout Trophy in 2009 against Suffolk.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/313/313142/Minor_Counties_Trophy_Matches.html|title=Minor Counties Trophy Matches played by Joe Leach|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=5 April 2012}} Leach joined Shropshire in 2010, making his debut for the county in the MCCA Knockout Trophy against Cumberland.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

While studying French and Philosophy at the University of Leeds,{{cite web|url=http://www.mccuniversities.org/leeds-bradford/player-profiles/joe-leach,302,PP.html|title=Player profile: Joe Leach|publisher=mccuniversities.org|accessdate=5 April 2012}} Leach made his first appearance for Leeds/Bradford MCCU in 2011.{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/313/313142/Miscellaneous_Matches.html|title=Miscellaneous Matches played by Joe Leach|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=5 April 2012}} The England and Wales Cricket Board conferred first-class status on Leeds/Bradford MCCU in 2012, with Leach making his first-class debut against Surrey at The Oval. In Surrey's first-innings of 385 all out, Leach took figures of 4/78 from thirteen overs, the best bowling figures of the innings. In Leeds/Bradford MCCU's first-innings response, Leach was dismissed for a duck by Tom Jewell. In their second-innings, he recorded his maiden first-class half century with a score of exactly 50, before being dismissed by Tim Linley. Leeds/Bradford MCCU narrowly lost the match by 2 runs.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

Leach played grade cricket in ACT for North Canberra Gungahlin Cricket Club during 2016–2017 season.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

He developed into a key member of Worcestershire's squad, becoming a first-team regular in 2015. In 2016 he was appointed county captain.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/37494527 |title=Worcestershire: Joe Leach replaces Daryl Mitchell as county captain |publisher=BBC Sport |date=28 September 2016 |accessdate=16 February 2017 }}

In July 2024, Leach announced he would retire from professional cricket at the end of that year's English county season.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/articles/c7259kkkr0do|title=Worcestershire's Leach to retire at end of season|publisher=BBC Sport|accessdate=4 October 2024}} He ended his final season as Worcestershire's joint leading County Championship wicket-taker alongside Nathan Smith and Tom Taylor.{{cite web|url=https://wccc.co.uk/leach-ends-final-season-as-joint-leading-wicket-taker/|title=LEACH ENDS FINAL SEASON AS JOINT LEADING WICKET-TAKER|publisher=Worcestershire County Cricket Club|accessdate=4 October 2024}}