The England camp would be concerned about Jack Leach’s niggle, which he picked up during the first Test against India in Hyderabad.

Bowling coach Jeetan Patel disclosed that Leach is suffering from a knee injury caused by two dives, one on the first evening and the other on the second morning.

“He banged his knee in the outfield last night and again today,” Patel said in a press conference at the end of the second day. “Given the circumstances, I thought he bowled quite well. That is who Jack is, and what he does for our club; he will always put in an effort. It’s a shame he came from where he did, and now you’re jumping around in beautiful leg. But he will be back. “He’s one of the strongest guys on the team,” Patel remarked.

Leach bowled nine overs in total on the first day, taking Rohit Sharma’s wicket, but came into the attack barely eight overs into the second morning, bowling only two overs in that session and then another two-over spell to begin after the break. In the second session, he’d bowl four more before being hauled out. He would come on in the last session after an 18-over break to bowl another four-over spell, followed by another three-over period at the close of the day to finish with 16 overs on Friday.

“I hope not,” Patel answered when asked if Leach would be limited to bowling brief spells like this during the contest.

“He is a difficult bloke. He’ll be back tomorrow, ready to go; he’ll never shirk responsibility for the job he has. But this is also about intelligence. We have five Test matches remaining, and we have another innings to bowl at the end of this game. We need a crucial figure like Jack. His duty isn’t to hold one end up; it’s to take wickets. Always look for opportunities to take wickets. I believe he gave it his all today, hitting the rough and bowling wide of the crease, making the most of the alternatives available to him. “Keep in mind he was a little hampered,” Patel stated.

This is Leach’s first first-class match after sustaining a stress fracture that sidelined him for more than six months.