SKIPPER Joe Leach has revealed he tapped into advice from renowned Australian duo Chris Rogers and Mike Hussey to prepare for his first season as Worcestershire captain.
The 26-year-old all-rounder contacted the pair after initially reading their respective autobiographies.
And former Somerset captain Rogers and also Hussey, who is commonly known in the game as ‘Mr Cricket’, were more than willing to pass on their advice and experience to Leach.
He has made a successful start to life at the helm at New Road after taking over the reins from Daryl Mitchell. Worcestershire were the last of the 18 first class counties to surrender their unbeaten record in all cricket this season when losing against Lancashire in last Wednesday’s Royal London One-Day Cup clash.
Leach said: “I read Chris Rogers’ autobiography in Australia (when playing grade cricket) and I read Mike Hussey’s before.
“I thought ‘what is the harm in trying to tap into these guys a little bit more than what’s in the public domain?’
“With the help of Mase (Worcestershire’s Australian bowling coach Matt Mason) and a couple of others, I got in touch with both of them and they both sent me emails back which were really good about captaincy.
“I just want to learn and try and absorb as much as I can. It’s the way I’ve been with bowling and stuff like that. I watch cricket a lot, I’m a bit of a badger.
“So what was the harm with tapping into these great players? They have both played county cricket as well so they understand how it works.
“They were more than willing to do it. I know Chris a little bit, having played against him once or twice and I met him at a benefit game for Daryl Mitchell last year and we spoke there.
“I’ve never met Mike Hussey before and he sent me a four-page email back and it was fantastic.”
Leach added: “For people like that to take the time out for you is really humbling as well and to be honest it made me think ‘how big a job is it?’
“Are there any captains I looked up to? I admired what Michael Vaughan did and some of the Australians like Steve Waugh and Ricky Ponting.
“I read about them and their achievements are fantastic.
“I can’t say I’ve had an idol or anyone I looked up or modelled myself on or anything like that.
“I admire a lot of cricketers but I haven’t got heroes.”