Rashid savours awesome debut

Adil Rashid © Getty Images

Teenage leg-spinner Adil Rashid completed one of the most notable debuts in Yorkshire history on Friday.

Rashid’s first match for his native county was already significant as he became the first Yorkshire-born Asian to make his debut in a championship match for the White Rose.

Just to make sure, though, he took 6-67 as Yorkshire wrapped up an innings-and-96-run Liverpool Victoria Division One win over Warwickshire inside three days.

Rashid admitted to early nerves but was determined to finish the job at Scarborough.

“I was a bit nervous at the start, being the new boy, but I soon got used to it and had plenty of confidence,” he said.

“I was feeling a bit tired in the last couple of overs - but I never felt I wanted to stop bowling.

“Captain Craig White asked at tea-time how I was feeling, and I said I felt fresh because I wanted a ‘five-for’ and didn’t want to be taken off.”

Bradford-born Rashid, one of two young leg-spinners on Yorkshire’s books, is already well aware of the attention sure to be focused on his cricket career.

“I would like to become a role model for young players with an Asian background and I have already received a lot of phone calls earlier in the match from friends congratulating me on my debut,” said the 18-year-old.

“My heroes are Shane Warne and Sachin Tendulkar, and my ambition is to get a Yorkshire cap next year and go on and play Test cricket for England.”