Rashid: I’m ready to play Tests again
ADiL RASHiD says he is ready to return to test cricket as England prepare for the series against india this summer which starts on August 1.
‘Right now i’m focusing on white-ball cricket for yorkshire, starting with friday’s t20 Roses match against Lancashire — but if England do want me to be part of the squad for the series against india, i can’t say no,’ Rashid told
Sky Sports Cricket last night. Rashid has taken a break from red-ball cricket with yorkshire but was England’s best bowler in the 2-1 one-day win over india.
in Headingley’s series decider, he produced the ball of the summer — a sharp-turning legbreak to flummox Virat Kohli.
With the current hot weather set to continue, and pitches likely to become even drier, spin bowling could decide the fivetest series.
And Kohli’s look of astonishment after he was bowled in Leeds has encouraged the notion that Rashid could repeat the trick in the five-day game.
Sportsmail revealed yesterday that national selector Ed Smith would speak to Rashid about possibly resuming a test career that reached an abrupt halt after tours of Bangladesh and india in 2016-17, when he took a respectable 30 wickets in seven games.
‘i decided earlier this year to focus on white-ball cricket to see how it felt but always knew that if i found i was missing red-ball cricket then i would go back to it,’ said Rashid.
‘So if the selectors come and show faith in me then i would give it my all, whatever role they want me to do.’
Jos Buttler has shown already that a test recall can follow exemplary performances in the white-ball game. He was drafted back into the test squad after some outstanding iPL displays.
England coach trevor Bayliss, who needs a series win after winter defeats by Australia and New Zealand, is open to the idea of Rashid’s return.
‘this year is probably the best we’ve seen him bowl,’ said Bayliss. ‘He has bowled well in oneday cricket over the last few years but his control and consistency this year have been top class.’
Asked whether he would try to persuade Rashid to give test cricket another crack , Bayliss said: ‘that’s a decision he has to make. Could he be picked in the test team on white-ball form?
‘ Well, it’s happened once this year. i’m sure he’ll be up for discussion.’
While Rashid’s 10 tests have brought him 38 wickets at a costly average of 42, his ability to produce wicket- taking deliveries is valuable in any form of the game.
Meanwhile, Bayliss cautioned against England’s one-day side getting carried away about their chances of winning the World Cup next year.
‘if you start going over the top then it puts extra onus on the players — “it’s coming home”, that type of thing. We don’t necessarily need that,’ he said.