SOMERSET and spinner Jack Leach has admitted that he was "as shocked as anyone" when routine tests ahead of this month's Lions training camp in Dubai suggested that his bowling action needed remedial work.

Following the tests, at the Performance Centre in Loughborough at the end of the County Championship season, the 25-year-old used his amended action for the first time in the Lions matches with the UAE and Afghanistan, taking five wickets.

Leach said: "When I did the test and they told me, I was as shocked as anyone.

"It was only a very small thing in terms of my body position and it wasn’t helping me bowl a doosra or anything like that.

"After that I just worked my nuts off to be honest with Peter Such from the Lions and Jason Kerr back at Somerset in terms of making the changes I needed to.

"I’ve made a hell of a lot of progress and I was pleased with the way it went out in the UAE.

"The important thing is that I’ve come to terms with it and I feel like I’m going to be a better bowler in the future for sorting it out."

Such, the ECB’s lead spin-bowling coach, added: “Jack really has worked like a Trojan since the initial assessment.

"He’s only made slight modifications but they make a big difference, and we’ve seen really significant progress."

Following the reports about Leach's action costing him a place on the England tour of India, fans and pundits - including David 'Bumble' Lloyd - expressed their shock.

However, this afternoon Matthew Maynard, Somerset’s director of cricket, made it clear he believes the remedial work for Leach's 'minor abnormality' will see the bowler flourish in the future.

Maynard said: "Jack had a tremendous season for Somerset and is an outstanding player and team member.

"Whilst he was picked up for a minor abnormality in his bowling action during routine testing at the end of the season, this was quickly addressed with remedial work, allowing him to play for England Lions over the last few weeks.

"I have every confidence that he will be playing for England in the future and that there is no major issue with his bowling action."