Rashid credits Warne chat
A 20-minute conversation with Shane Warne at the end of Yorkshire’s match at the Rose Bowl in 2007 has stayed fresh in the mind of Adil Rashid, serving as a nagging reminder of what to bowl, when to bowl it and why it should be bowled.
The young leg-spinning all rounder, who is back at the Rose Bowl representing England Lions against New Zealand, spent precious time with the legendary Warne and came away with some valuable tips.
“When things are not going so well, I often think back to the chat we had and use it to adapt my game,” he told ecb.co.uk. “The things we talked about were things I can use long-term throughout my career.
“He gave me some specific ideas about how to work out batsmen and if things are not going well, what you should focus on and think about.
“He also told me about setting fields which I like to do myself in agreement with my captain. It was a good chat. Very worthwhile."
With Warne passing on tips and Warne’s mentor Terry Jenner overseeing his progress since the age of 13, Rashid has been privy to some of the wisest counsel in the art of leg-spin bowling.
Twenty years-old and mature beyond his years, he is yet to be capped by Yorkshire but has already earned selection for England Lions and strongly maintains he is ready to take the next step.
“I feel that if you are good enough, you should be able to play,” he said. “In India and Pakistan, they start them very young, throw them straight into the deep end and see how they go. If I get the call-up, I feel I am ready.”
Rashid scored 27 alongside Luke Wright in the first innings Rashid is well aware that some people, particularly some of his team-mates at Yorkshire are calling for caution in fast-tracking his career and while he understands their concern, he maintains he is young and resilient enough to survive any knocks that international cricket might bring.
“In the past, they have seen young cricketers being thrown in at the deep end, not be successful and go downhill. If I was selected and had a bad time, I would just go back to basics and look to perform with bat and ball for Yorkshire.
“But I have the advantage of being young so if it did happen, I still have time to get things back on track.
“The ups and downs are all part of the game. That’s cricket. I don’t like being hit but I am getting more resilient. When it happened in 2006, my body language was not good and I showed it when I felt let down but it’s much better now.”
He ended the 2007 season as Yorkshire's leading all-rounder with 790 championship runs and 40 wickets then during the winter averaged 47 with the bat and took 10 wickets for England Lions in India.
He made 27 in the Lions’ first innings against New Zealand at the Rose Bowl on Thursday and he suggests there is plenty still to do.
“So far this summer, I have not batted too many times and today, it was pretty tough but as I went on, it felt better and better. In terms of my form I feel good though, as yet, not great but then it is a bit early.
“Whether I play for Yorkshire or England Lions, I just have to think about my bowling and my batting and not think about my future. It is difficult but you have to take it one game at a time, one day at a time. Sometimes you feel the pressure but I am only 20 and still have a lot to learn.
“But I think if I do well with the bat and ball this summer there has to be a good chance of getting selected for England.”
By Kate Laven
Adil Rashid
