Adil Rashid Ready To End Test Cricket Exile For India Series

Adil Rashid could well be seen bowling to India in red-ball cricket too if the selectors pick him in the Test squad for the upcoming series. Rashid has said he would considering ending his red-ball cricket exile if asked to be part of England’s Test plans against India.

England would be desperate to have Rashid on board for the Test series. The leg-spinner is grabbing the headlines for all the right reasons at the moment. His latest exploits against India in the ODIs have turned many heads. The spinner finished the three-match series with six wickets with the most impressive display coming in the final ODI.

He had taken three wickets to help England restrict India to a modest 256. The highlight of the show was obviously the ball that left Virat Kohli perplexed. The delivery was reminiscent of the Ball of the Century Shane Warne bowled to Mike Gatting in 1993.

The India skipper Kohli scored 71 in the series-decider and was on his way to register another ODI ton. However, Rashid delivered an absolute gem of a delivery to cut short the right-hander’s innings. The ball had pitched on leg stump, ragged back past the batsman’s outside-edge and uprooted the off-stump.

After the game, even Kohli had lauded the delivery of Rashid Khan, saying:

“I’ve been playing against Rashid since U-19 and it was a terrific ball, so it’s just one of those balls that you have to take in your stride and say “Wow”. I’m surprised that his turn has reduced over the years. But this one was an amazing ball.”

And with England not set to play any ODI or T20I before the winter, Rashid is ready to consider returning to red-ball cricket.

“I’m gutted that England don’t have any more white-ball cricket until the winter after our massive series win against India,” he wrote in Sky Sports.

Some people expected us to lose 3-0 after going down in the first match of the series. But there’s a great vibe in this squad and we’re tough to keep down,” he added.

He further made it clear that he would not turn down any offer to be a part of England’s Test team.

“Right now I’m focussing on white-ball cricket for Yorkshire – starting with Friday’s Roses match against Lancashire. But if England do want me to be part of the squad for the Test series against India then I’ll consider it,” he said.

“I made the decision earlier this year to focus on playing 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.

So if the selectors come and show faith in me then I would consider it, whatever role they want me to do,” he added.

As far as England’s spin department is concerned, they are not exactly blessed with quality spin bowlers. And considering Rashid for the series against the world number one Test side looks a good one. There are also reports suggesting that selector Ed Smith is set to meet Rashid to convince him and overturn his decision of quitting red-ball cricket.