Revelation Rashid’s growing in confidence
ADIL RASHID is increasingly confident he can get the world’s best players out.
England’s leg-spinner, the revelation of their tour of India, was central to their recovery on day two of the third Test in Mohali – where the hosts needed determination down the order from all-rounders Ravi Ashwin (57no) and Ravindra Jadeja to reach 271 for six in reply to 283 all out.
Rashid (three for 81) took two of the three wickets which fell for only eight runs straight after tea, breaking the stand between Virat Kohli (62) and Cheteshwar Pujara (51) and then seeing off Ajinkya Rahane lbw for a duck to a googly.
The telling skill in Pujara’s dismissal was not Rashid’s but that of Chris Woakes, with an outstanding catch after the India number three pulled a long-hop to the only man in the leg-side deep.
Rashid acknowledged that as he assessed his achievements as the series’ leading wicket-taker on either side, with 16 so far.
“Sometimes you get some luck as well,” said the 28-year-old Yorkshireman, who appears to have benefited substantially from the tutelage of England’s temporary spin consultant Saqlain Mushtaq over the past few weeks.
“I’ve obviously been working hard in the nets, on some technical things – working out batsmen, field placings.
“It’s also (about) being really confident, having that belief you can get the best players in the world out.
“Things sometimes go your way, sometimes they don’t. At the moment, it’s going very well so far.”
If Rashid is indeed a ‘confidence’ bowler, it surely cannot have harmed that both Saqlain and India captain Kohli have spoken of him in glowing terms in recent days?
“Not really,” he said. “I don’t really look to get any praise from anybody ... I just look to keep my head down and concentrate in practice.
“Obviously, I go out there and give it 100 per cent. If wickets come, they come; if they don’t, then no big deal.”
It was not Rashid but Ben Stokes who took the prize wicket of Kohli, caught-behind trying to guide some runs into a packed off-side field.
There must have been an element of extra personal satisfaction for Stokes, who had paid with an International Cricket Council reprimand and demerit point for his reaction the previous day in a verbal spat with Kohli after he was stumped off Jadeja.
Rashid said of Kohli’s mid-evening departure: “It was a big wicket - we all know he’s a class player.
“For Stokesy to get him as well there’s been a bit of friction between them - it shows his class. He really runs in and gives 100 per cent and got his rewards there.
“We had certain plans to certain players, and looked to nail it. We knew we might not get our rewards straightaway, but if we stuck to them we might get them in the last session – and that’s what happened.” SOUTH Africa opening batsman Stephen Cook’s second Test century could not prevent Australia from claiming a consolation victory in the day/night clash in Adelaide.
The 33-year-old, playing only his sixth Test, held the Proteas together against the pink ball before he was last man out for 104 of his side’s 250 all out, leaving the new-look hosts with 127 to win.
David Warner struck 47, Steve Smith made 40 and debutant Matt Renshaw was unbeaten on 34 as Australia, two years to the day since Phil Hughes died, celebrated a seven-wicket win which ended a run of five Test defeats and denied the tourists a series whitewash.
Resuming the fourth day on 194 for six, a lead of just 70, South Africa lost Quinton de Kock in the fifth over of the day as Australia used a review to overturn a not-out lbw decision by Nigel Llong to hand Jackson Bird his only second-innings scalp.
Vernon Philander and Cook took their side’s lead into three figures with a stand of 34 until the former, against the new ball, missed a Mitchell Starc inswinger and was pinned leg-before.
After Cook pulled Josh Hazlewood for four to bring up a 235-ball Test ton, including eight fours, Kagiso Rabada gloved the right-arm seamer behind.