Root believes Rashid has all it takes to play at Test level

Joe Root hopes he is inheriting the Test-match skills of Adil Rashid at the perfect time.

The England captain confirmed his fellow Yorkshireman, subject of an open-season reaction since his controversial selection in a 13-man squad last week, will be the sole spinner against India in today’s first Test at Edgbaston.

Root insisted, contrary to some rumblings, he needed no persuading about Rashid’s recall.

He senses Rashid’s white-ball improvement for club and country says he can do himself and England full justice at Test level. In their landmark 1,000th Test, England need him to be a greater threat than his career figures suggest – after 38 wickets at an average of 42.78 from 10 overseas caps.

Root, who has known Rashid throughout his own professional career, said: “He’s very talented – he always has been.

“Over the last couple of years... he has grown as a player massively. He’s got high skill levels, which I think are very transferable into Test cricket.”

Rashid’s chance comes at the expense of fellow spinner Moeen Ali, who alongside uncapped seamer Jamie Porter has not graduated from squad to team.

Root believes the row over Rashid’s selection – despite his current white-ball only status, and including in part from Yorkshire – has been misplaced.

“People are entitled to their opinions and can voice what they want,” said Root. “I probably think it’s slightly unfair.”

Root is also reassured by national selector Ed Smith’s assertion that Rashid, and anyone else from next season, must be playing red-ball cricket to be in the Test reckoning.

Teams for the first Specsavers Test between England and India at Edgbaston, starting at 11am on August 1:

England: JE Root (Captain), AN Cook, KK Jennings, DJ Malan, JM Bairstow (wkt), BA Stokes, JC Buttler, SM Curran, AU Rashid, SCJ Broad, JM Anderson

India (possible): V Kohli (Captain), KL Rahul, M Vijay, C Pujara, A Rahane, D Karthik (wkt), H Pandya, R Ashwin, I Sharma, M Shami, U Yadav

Adil Rashid has the backing of England captain Joe Root.