Rashid in the form of his life
6:49pm Tuesday 19th August 2008
Adil Rashid’s recent County Championship form has prompted speculation the young leg-spinner could be in line for an England call-up sooner rather than later.
Yorkshire’s rising star has taken 16 wickets in the last three four-day games against Surrey, Hampshire and Lancashire.
That run included career-best figures of seven for 107 from 31.1 overs in defeat at the Rose Bowl and five for 95 from 30.4 overs in last week’s draw at Old Trafford.
Whether it is exaggerating things to suggest this spell is the best form of the Bradford-born star’s career is debatable but it cannot be far off it.
And with England travelling to India this winter, a famous hotbed of spin, for seven one-day internationals and two Test matches, tongues are starting to wag.
England will take two spinners to south Asia, most likely Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann, but if they decide to add a third as back-up then Rashid will be next in line.
The fact that there are only two Tests, in Ahmedabad and Mumbai, may mean England only take a couple of twirlers.
Yet despite the recent form of the man they call ‘Rash’, Yorkshire director of professional cricket Martyn Moxon had a simple answer to the question of whether his player should board a flight with the senior squad this winter.
“No, I don’t think he is quite ready yet,” said Moxon, a former England international himself with ten Test matches and eight one-day internationals to his credit, including one 50-over game in India.
“Test cricket is a big leap and I would like to see Adil continue his development with us. Then we can wait until he is ready.”
Rashid is now Yorkshire’s leading LV Division One wicket-taker with 41 scalps at an average of 31.07.
He has had plenty of representative experience at international level, including a Lions tour to India last winter plus a four-day game against New Zealand earlier this summer.
Whether 20-year-old Rashid gets an England call or not, the one thing that seems certain is that the product of Terry Jenner’s famous spin programme will be crucial for his county between now and September 27.
Yorkshire are still in a relegation battle and a title race at the same time – the league really is that tight.
Moxon said: “Rash has bowled well in the last four or five games and that has shown in his wickets. He has got his confidence back.
“Depending on the weather of course, he could be a big player for us between now and the end of the season.”
Yorkshire are next scheduled to be in action on Thursday at Derbyshire in the NatWest Pro40 League.