JACK Leach insists he retains white ball ambitions as he looks to "play as much cricket as possible" in 2019 and beyond.

The left-arm spinner has not featured in a 50-over match for Somerset since August 2015 and has never played a T20 match for the county.

He has instead consistently delivered with the red ball in recent years, culminating in his starring role for England in the recent Test series win in Sri Lanka, but the 27-year-old "definitely" wants to participate in more than just the County Championship for Somerset.

"I played a few years of white ball cricket and I love 50-over cricket," Leach said.

"I have good memories of playing 50-over cricket for Somerset and it’s something I feel I can do well in.

"I want to play as much cricket as possible – the more you play, the more you learn, and it will only help my longer-format cricket as well.

"White ball training is something I need to do more of. It’s about finding little gaps to put that time in.

"Over the next few months, in and around that Test series [in the West Indies], I will be working on that.

"There are some great white ball players in that Test team so it’s great to chat to them about that and form some ideas on how to get better. It’s definitely something to aim for."

Leach also backed his Somerset teammates to join him in the senior England set-up in the coming months and years.

Dom Bess and Craig Overton have already had a taste of Test action and the former is to join Jamie Overton and Lewis Gregory on the England Lions tour of India in the new year.

All four were named in the Lions squad for the recent matches against Pakistan A in the United Arab Emirates but injury is keeping Craig Overton sidelined for the India trip.

"I think those guys have had a really good tour [of the UAE]," Leach said.

"They all have potential to play for England and it’s about timing and what opportunities come along.

"They have to keep pushing and keep believing and they’ll get there."

Leach has enjoyed a friendly, if competitive, rivalry with Bess since the off-spinner burst on to the scene towards the end of the 2016 season.

The pair have each had their ups and downs since, with Bess making his Test debut against Pakistan in May after Leach sustained a broken thumb the day before the squad was named.

Once Leach was fit and firing again, however, he re-established his place above Bess in the pecking order for club and country.

“It’s a strange situation because we’re both spinners competing at county and international level," Leach said.

"It’s important to focus on being the best player you can be and also on helping other people. Usually, when you help others, you end up helping yourself as well and you can learn from that.

“I know it was frustrating for Dom at the back end of the summer as he went from playing for England to not playing for Somerset, which is a weird situation and one which is hard to take.

"He’s a young, ambitious guy and wants to push himself as far as possible – there’s nothing wrong with that.

"It’s a difficult situation for the club to manage but it’s important for us both to stay professional, keep working hard and keep helping each other – which in turn will help Somerset win matches.”