Adil Rashid

Is it fair to say Adil Rashid would have had a much better career at the international level if he wasn't representing England? Fair to say - Yes. The team's long researched aversion to any kind of spin has meant that a promising career has never quite taken off - at any format of the game. Come to think of this - Rashid made his One Day International (ODI) and Twenty20 (T20I) debut way back in 2009, but then had to wait six long years before he could bowl in whites.

Rashid's Test selection came on the back of two back-to-back county championship wins for Yorkshire - his long loved club. Rashid had a very slow and painful start to his Test sojourn - getting smashed for almost 5 runs per over on his debut against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi. One of the major complaints about Rashid was his inability to string together quiet overs - he had the ability to take wickets - and he showed that aspect as well in the same Test - grabbing his maiden five-wicket haul.

While the series against Pakistan was an educative experience, Rashid was expected to deliver the goods when he was chosen as the main spinner during England's arduous 7-Test tour of the sub-continent - with two Tests lined up against Bangladesh and a further five against India in 2016. Albeit against tough opposition, this was Rashid's chance to shine.

Rashid featured in all the seven Tests and finished with a haul of 30 wickets - not bad for a leg-spinner against the mighty sub-continental batsmen. But his consistency was sorely missing, there were as many as five four-wicket hauls, but none of them were converted into five-wicket hauls. The wickets came at a cost as well - not even once in his 12 bowling innings did he concede less than 3 RPO. England only managed one win out of seven, losing five and drawing one and Rashid was sent down the pecking order.

Rashid didn't play a Test since the India tour for some time and his chances of gaining another 'Three Lions' cap looked bleak. While his Test future didn't look good, Rashid became a vital part in the scheme of things in the new-look England ODI squad. He became a valuable asset for the Morgan led side as England brought about a bit of a renaissance in ODI cricket after the 2015 World Cup.

Rashid's bowling average or even his economy of 5.5 isn't staggering for a leg spinner in today's modern era. However, it's his knack of picking up wickets that has made him stand apart. While he appeared tensed in Test cricket due to the attacking fields that was given, thereby increasing the pressure on him to be accurate, it seems like Rashid loves the in-out fields that are in use for the shorter formats.

Rashid, who had decided not to play red-ball cricket with his county, in a surprised/controversial move was recalled for the Test squad against the home Test series against India in 2018 following his performances against the same opponents in the 50-over format. Later that year, he was a key member of the England squad that whitewashed the Island nation in a 3-match Test series in Sri Lanka.

Rashid was a crucial cog in England's famous World Cup victorious campaign and although he didn't take a truckload of wickets, he did ensure that England had a dominating presence, especially during the crucial middle-overs phase of the game. This after he enjoyed a rich vein of form in 2018 with 42 wickets to his name from 24 ODIs. 

Having missed the bus for the 2010 T20 World Cup triumph, Rashid made amends by ensuring he remained a pivotal part when England won the T20 World Cup in 2022 under Jos Buttler. Rashid might not have featured in a lot of the ODIs post the pandemic but expect another string showing from the leggie in the 2023 World Cup as the conditions would certainly favour him.

By Hariprasad Sadanandan