Dom Leech says he enjoyed his brief loan spell with Northamptonshire last week, but is hoping things get even better over the next week as Yorkshire get set to embark upon their Metro Bank One-Day Cup campaign.
The former England Under 19s fast bowler, now 22, played for the Wantage Road side in their Championship draw against Lancashire at Emirates Old Trafford last week, going wicketless.
He has since returned to Yorkshire duty and impressed in today’s rain-affected National Counties 50-over friendly against Cheshire at Nantwich, claiming 3-32 from nine overs as the hosts posted 268-9. The Vikings’ other Dom, Bess, claimed four wickets.
“It was good,” he said, of last week’s loan. “It was a tough week with the scores. It was the Test Match pitch, so it was pretty dead for the seamers and turned for the spinners.
“It was a bit strange because I didn’t know any of the lads down there, but they were great with me. It was just good to play some cricket in a different environment with different pressures.
“I could have had a few more wickets with a bit more luck, but I really enjoyed it.”
Leech claimed two new ball wickets against Cheshire and returned to strike again at the death before rain at the mid-innings interval put paid to Yorkshire’s chance of a chase.
“I was happy with how it went,” he said. “It’s a small ground here, and there was a set batter in at the end.
“It’s quite easy to go around the park, and it only takes one or two bad balls an over and you’re going at 10s. But there was a slightly longer side, and the plan was to go a bit wider and use that, and it seemed to work for me.
“The bowlers got something out of it, but unfortunately the batters didn’t. But they can have a net, can’t they!”
Leech has played Championship and T20 cricket for Yorkshire, but he is yet to make his 50-over debut.
“I was thinking when I was bowling here that the last two years when I could have been playing in this competition, I’ve missed it through injury (knee in 2021 and foot in 2022),” he continued. “So I can’t wait to get going now.”
With a host of senior players missing due to the Hundred, he will form part of a youthful looking attack in the MB50. But he is still backing them to help secure success.
“We have some good pace, good spin options and Coady has great skills up top as well,” he said. “Touch wood, we have all bases covered.”
Yorkshire start their campaign against champions Kent Spitfires at Scarborough on Tuesday before facing arch-rivals Lancashire at the same venue on Thursday.
“This week at Scarborough will be really exciting,” he said. “Hopefully we get a couple of big crowds in, especially against Lancs. Two wins would be a great way to start.”
