ENG vs IND 2018: Adil Rashid 'Surprised' After Receiving Test Recall

Not only others but Adil Rashid himself is taken aback after being picked in England’s Test squad for the first game against India.

The leg-spinner was sensationally picked in the 13-man squad announced by England national selector Ed Smith on Thursday. England took the decision even though Rashid opted out of playing County Championship cricket this season.

Rashid’s last appearance came against India in Chennai more than 18 months ago. Not only that, Rashid had also signed a contract with Yorkshire where he opted out of playing red-ball County Championship cricket this season. Playing in the Championship has long been the traditional pathway to Test selection. Not surprisingly, Rashid’s inclusion has caused outcry in England.

Many former skippers including Michael Vaughan have slammed the decision. And to make the matters worse for England selection panel, Rashid himself said that he was surprised to get a recall.

“After the ODIs there was a discussion that me and Ed had. Just regarding – you know – how you feel about playing. Or being part of the squad, this summer against India,” he told Sky Sports News.

“So obviously I had to think about it. Considering I hadn’t played red-ball game for a little while. But this opportunity I couldn’t buy at it – I had to think about it and make a decision.

“I said: ‘I’ll make myself available,’ and if you guys want to select me in the squad then I’ll come and try my best,” he added.

Rashid conceded that ending the white-ball exile was a tough decision for him. At the same time, he expressed his surprise over getting the recall despite not playing in county championship.

“It was definitely a tough decision. And obviously I was kind of surprised because to get back in the Test side usually people have to go back to your county and perform to be considered.

“But me, Ed Smith and a few others had a chat. And they were thinking that if I could be made available and do whatever the job is in the team – to be attacking or whatever.  We’d be happy for you to be in the squad. That was something I had to think about and I’ve made that decision to be made available,” he said.

Rashid was selected ahead of Somerset duo Dom Bess and Jack Leach, who will nevertheless train with the squad before the first Test at Edgbaston next Wednesday.

England took the controversial decision after Rashid’s impressive show in the ODIs against India. 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.

Rashid has played ten Tests so far, taking 38 wickets. His Test career came to an abrupt end when he was not picked for the previous Ashes despite being the highest wicket-taker on the Test tour of Bangladesh and India in 2016-17.

Meanwhile, the five-Test series gets underway in Birmingham on August 1.