Rashid not feeling the pressure as England’s main spinner at T20 WC

Adil Rashid rejected the suggestion he has an extra responsibility as England’s frontline spinner at the T20 World Cup and insisted every bowler has a part to play in delivering success.

The pitches in the United Arab Emirates – where England will play all their Super 12 matches, starting on Saturday against the West Indies in Dubai – are traditionally dry and therefore usually conducive to the turning ball.

If that proves the case over the next few weeks, Rashid’s influence could be instructive although the supplementary spin of Moeen Ali or Liam Livingstone, or possibly both, is highly likely to ease any burden on their colleague.

Not that it concerns Rashid, who encouragingly took three for 18 in England’s 13-run warm-up win over

New Zealand at the Tolerance Oval in Abu Dhabi, their final outing before taking on the defending champions this weekend.

Discussing his role as the team’s main slow bowler, the leg-spinner said: “It’s been like that for a fair few years now. I don’t think like that whatsoever because we definitely don’t put that on us lot as a squad or a team.

“We all know we’ve got 11 match-winners, whoever’s bowling are all match-winners. There’s no one set person that is down to do the job, it’s a collective thing and we’re all backing each other in whatever we do.

“It’s not just a matter of spin or seam, it’s the whole bowling unit. It’s definitely the bowling unit that’s going to win the game as opposed to just maybe seam or spin, it’s definitely a collective thing.

“Whatever the final XI is (whether England select Moeen or Livingstone, or both all-rounders), whatever they decide to go with, seam or spin, we’ll all try our best to support each other.”

Rashid’s introduction into the bowling attack on Wednesday turned the tide after Jos Buttler’s scintillating 73 from just 51 deliveries, including 11 fours and two sixes, had ushered England to 163 for six against the Kiwis.

There were cameos of 30 from Jonny Bairstow and 27 not out from Sam Billings but concerns persist over the form of Eoin Morgan, who returned to the line-up after sitting out Monday’s warm-up defeat to India and made just 10.