‘Big shoes to fill’: Steve Smith reflects on Jack Leach missing the Ashes

Australia former captain laments ‘real shame’ of absenceHazlewood out of World Test Championship final

Australia’s Steve Smith has said the injury-enforced absence of England’s Jack Leach from the Ashes will leave “some big shoes for them to fill” 11 days before the series starts at Edgbaston.

Smith watched “little bits and pieces” of England’s victory over Ireland at Lord’s with his attention focused on the World Test Championship final against India, which starts at the Oval on Thursday. “It’s a real shame,” he said of Leach’s lumbar fracture. “He’s done really well for England, the last 12-18 months in particular, and it’s going to be some big shoes for them to fill. I feel for him. Hopefully he recovers well.”

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