MJ Leach: runs, wickets and records

MJ Leach appears in 158 recorded men's matches, from 15 September 2014 to 24 September 2026, most often for Somerset and England. The matches split as 39 in Test matches, 11 in franchise Twenty20 leagues and 108 in the County Championship. The most frequent opponents in the records are Hampshire (14 matches), Surrey (14 matches) and Warwickshire (12 matches). The ground used most often is The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton, with 31 matches.

In Test matches, the batting record is 498 runs in 58 innings, an average of 13.46, a strike rate of 37.3 and a highest score of 92, with 1 fifties and 7 ducks.

In the County Championship, the batting record is 1,494 runs in 138 innings, an average of 15.56, a strike rate of 45.1 and a highest score of 66, with 2 fifties and 17 ducks.

In Test matches, the bowling record is 142 wickets in 67 innings, an average of 34.11, an economy rate of 3.09, a strike rate of 66.2 balls per wicket and best figures of 5 for 66, including 5 five-wicket hauls.

In franchise Twenty20 leagues, the bowling record is 17 wickets in 11 innings, an average of 17.94, an economy rate of 8.47 and best figures of 3 for 20.

In the County Championship, the bowling record is 365 wickets in 172 innings, an average of 23.60, an economy rate of 2.53 and best figures of 8 for 85, including 25 five-wicket hauls.

The highest individual scores in the records are: 92 from 162 balls against Ireland at Lord's on 24 July 2019 (Tests). 66 from 131 balls against Lancashire at Old Trafford, Manchester on 4 May 2018 (the County Championship). 52 from 132 balls against Lancashire at Old Trafford, Manchester on 21 April 2017 (the County Championship). 49 from 140 balls against Warwickshire at Edgbaston, Birmingham on 21 September 2021 (the County Championship). 43 from 55 balls against Yorkshire at Headingley, Leeds on 23 September 2014 (the County Championship).

The best bowling figures in the records are: 8 for 85 against Essex at County Ground, Taunton on 19 August 2018. 7 for 50 against Durham at The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton on 29 August 2024. 7 for 69 against Hampshire at The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton on 15 September 2025. 7 for 74 against Lancashire at County Ground, Taunton on 4 September 2018. 7 for 106 against Warwickshire at County Ground, Taunton on 22 September 2015.

In Test matches, the player's side won 22 and lost 12 of the 39 recorded matches (64.7% of decided matches).

In franchise Twenty20 leagues, the player's side won 7 and lost 4 of the 11 recorded matches (63.6% of decided matches).

In the County Championship, the player's side won 40 and lost 24 of the 108 recorded matches (62.5% of decided matches).

Against the most frequent opponents the results were Hampshire: 4 won, 3 lost in 14 matches, Surrey: 4 won, 4 lost in 14 matches, Warwickshire: 6 won, 1 lost in 12 matches, Nottinghamshire: 6 won, 2 lost in 12 matches and Essex: 4 won, 5 lost in 11 matches.

The grounds used most often are The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton (31), County Ground, Taunton (26), Trent Bridge, Nottingham (8), Kennington Oval, London (7), Edgbaston, Birmingham (7) and Lord's, London (7).

Runs in each calendar year of the records: 2014 (51), 2015 (43), 2016 (121), 2017 (179), 2018 (229), 2019 (203), 2021 (318), 2022 (231), 2023 (146), 2024 (198), 2025 (122), 2026 (163).

Wickets in each calendar year of the records: 2014 (7), 2015 (15), 2016 (65), 2017 (37), 2018 (50), 2019 (48), 2021 (48), 2022 (59), 2023 (32), 2024 (69), 2025 (55), 2026 (39).

Recorded matches in each calendar year: 2014 (2), 2015 (5), 2016 (15), 2017 (10), 2018 (15), 2019 (13), 2021 (19), 2022 (21), 2023 (9), 2024 (18), 2025 (16), 2026 (15).

In Test matches, 63 fours and 2 sixes, one boundary every 20.5 balls faced; 53.0% of the runs came in boundaries.

In the County Championship, 201 fours and 13 sixes, one boundary every 15.5 balls faced; 59.0% of the runs came in boundaries.

In Test matches, 37 recorded dismissals: caught 54%, bowled 22%, lbw 14% and stumped 11%.

In the County Championship, 96 recorded dismissals: caught 66%, bowled 22%, lbw 6% and stumped 3%.

In Test matches: 6,927 dot balls (73.7% of legal deliveries), 308 maidens, 1 wides and 20 no-balls and wickets by caught 56%, lbw 21% and bowled 14%.

In franchise Twenty20 leagues: 74 dot balls (34.3% of legal deliveries), 2 wides and 1 no-balls and wickets by caught 65%, bowled 24% and caught and bowled 6%.

In the County Championship: 15,964 dot balls (78.2% of legal deliveries), 882 maidens, 10 wides and 17 no-balls and wickets by caught 55%, lbw 20% and bowled 16%.

Of the 3 player of the match awards on record, the first is dated 24 July 2019 (England v Ireland) and the latest 12 July 2026 (Somerset v Worcestershire): 2 in Test matches and 1 in franchise Twenty20 leagues.

The first recorded match in Test matches is dated 30 March 2018 against New Zealand and the latest 24 October 2024 against Pakistan.

The first recorded match in franchise Twenty20 leagues is dated 23 June 2021 against Surrey and the latest 18 July 2026 against Northamptonshire.

The first recorded match in the County Championship is dated 15 September 2014 against Middlesex and the latest 24 September 2026 against Surrey.

The most runs against a single opponent are 233 against Lancashire in 12 innings (average 23.30), 224 against Warwickshire in 18 innings (average 16.00), 179 against Nottinghamshire in 16 innings (average 13.77) and 175 against Hampshire in 13 innings (average 15.91).

The most wickets against a single opponent are 52 against Warwickshire in 21 innings, 47 against Surrey in 21 innings, 40 against Essex in 18 innings and 39 against Nottinghamshire in 19 innings.

The grounds that have produced the most runs are The Cooper Associates County Ground, Taunton (382 runs in 33 innings), County Ground, Taunton (351 runs in 34 innings), Old Trafford, Manchester (151 runs in 8 innings) and Trent Bridge, Nottingham (114 runs in 10 innings).

Year by year, the latest figures in the records are 2021: 19 matches, 318 runs and 48 wickets; 2022: 21 matches, 231 runs and 59 wickets; 2023: 9 matches, 146 runs and 32 wickets; 2024: 18 matches, 198 runs and 69 wickets; 2025: 16 matches, 122 runs and 55 wickets; 2026: 15 matches, 163 runs and 39 wickets.

The busiest year in the records is 2022, with 21 matches. The most runs in a calendar year came in 2021: 318. The most wickets in a calendar year came in 2024: 69.