SOMERSET spinner Jack Leach has been called up to the England Test squad for the upcoming series in New Zealand.

Leach got the nod this morning after leg-spinner Mason Crane suffered a back injury.

Last month, Leach recorded the best ever match figures by an England Lions spinner, finishing with 8-112 against West Indies A in Jamaica.

The Somerset man claimed 5-28 from 13 overs in the second innings to go with his 3-84 from 34 overs.


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Leach's figures were the best by any spinner in an England back-up side, including the previous England A and England B teams.

The 26-year-old Taunton-born spinner has taken more wickets (116) in Division One of the County Championship over the past two seasons than anyone else and has been narrowly overlooked for tours of both India and Australia in recent winters.

He also had to bounce back from remodelling his action last winter, with routine tests having found a kink, but Leach did so successfully to spearhead Somerset's charge to Division One survival last season.

Leach's call-up also followed news that Craig Overton had been named in England's 12-man squad for a game against the New Zealand XI - the seamer took 1-37 from 13 overs on day one.