Joe Leach To Retire At End Of 2024 Season, Eyes Final Achievement

Joe Leach will retire from first-class cricket after the ongoing County Championship 2024 season. The Worcestershire bowler has taken 464 wickets in 135 matches, averaging 26.92.

Leach's last appearance for Worcestershire was in May against Nottinghamshire. Currently, Worcestershire sits ninth in the ten-team table with only one win from nine games. They have five more matches before the season ends.

Leach captained Worcestershire from 2017 to 2021 and has taken 456 first-class wickets for the county. He was the leading wicket-taker for six seasons and scored 3947 runs, including two centuries, in 135 matches.

The Staffordshire-born cricketer aims to help Worcestershire retain their Division One status as a perfect sign-off. He plans to return against Kent in late August.

"I've achieved more than I ever thought I would do in the game but there is one little frontier, one little barrier that I'm massively keen to achieve before I sign off at the end of September," said Leach.

"That is for us to retain our status in Division One and to help the guys in August and September to do that."

"I'm back bowling with the plan to be, all things being equal, ready for that Kent game in August."

Reflecting on His Career

"Like all these things, there are a lot of factors that come into it. I've heard that cliche a lot 'when you are ready, you know you are ready' and that has kind of dawned on me this season," Leach said.

"The knee injury, although not the sole contributory factor, has certainly played a part in my decision. The body is probably not able to do what it once was."

Leach expressed his excitement about his future beyond cricket. "I think there comes a time in your career when you are excited for the next chapter and that's where I'm at now at this moment."

Aiming for a Strong Finish

"I'm desperate to make sure I'm back and ready and putting myself and the team in the best possible position to achieve what we want to at the end of the year," he added.

"If we can stay up, it will be a great achievement. I reckon it will be the best thing we've done in four-day cricket since I've been here."