I can't help but feel that Jack Leach is a victim of his time. If our top 7 (less Root) were firing properly and making stacks of runs he'd probably be in the side. As it is he makes the tail too long, less from his own actions but more of others'.
Exactly, looks like we need a bowling allrounder to play(seamer) for Leach to get picked in most conditions apart from India or Sri Lanka.
If we batted and got 400 most of the time you need spin at the back end of the game even in the UK. But the fact is we don't, our batting is weak and the selectors are doing everything and anything to prop it up.
In some ways I feel for those picking the team, invest in potential or revert back to players tried before-not easy.
I don't know when the next Championship game is but England should release Leach from the squad for this series to let him get some cricket in. I'm less convinced about Bess, he's a better bat than Leach but nowhere near as good a spinner.
You could make the same argument about Foakes, when fit, how anyone sees his batting as weakening the side is a mystery to me.