On the back of some serious performances for England in coloured clothing, Adil Rashid could just pave his way back into the Test fold. England coach Trevor Bayliss felt that Rashid has been bowling ‘the best we’ve seen him bowl’ and indicated that Rashid in England’s Test team was ‘possible’.
“This year is probably the best we’ve seen him bowl. He’s bowled well in one-day cricket over the last few years but his control and his consistency this year has been top class and probably the best I’ve seen him bowl since I’ve been here,” Bayliss said.
Rashid’s last Test appearance came in India in December 2016. Having failed to break into the team since then, Rashid signed a white-ball only contract with Yorkshire in February earlier this year. But with glowing performances for England in ODIs and T20Is, Rashid now could be persuaded to get back to the longest format.
“Right now I’m focusing on white-ball cricket for Yorkshire – starting with Friday’s (July 20) 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,” Rashid said in his diary for Sky Sports Cricket.
“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.”
Ed Smith, England’s chief selector, is set to speak to Rashid to check whether a return would be possible for the leg-spinner. Jos Buttler, too, had recently been picked for England on the basis of his white-ball form, and the returns were great for England. They will hope they can extract something similar from Rashid too.
“That’s a decision Adil’s got to make,” said Bayliss. “I’m not sure whether Ed Smith’s had a chat with him or not. Could he get picked in the Test team on white-ball form? It’s already happened once this year. I’m sure he’ll be up for discussion, definitely.”