Rashid living the dream

Adil Rashid has refreshed his confidence with five wickets

England Lions debutant Adil Rashid has identified master batsman Sachin Tendulkar as the prize scalp he wants above all others this weekend.

Teenage leg-spinner Rashid is looking forward to realising his lifelong dream of bowling at Tendulkar when the Lions take on India in the three-day tour match, starting at Chelmsford on Friday.

But to get him out – as his Yorkshire colleague Michael Vaughan once memorably did in a Test match with his part-time off-spin – would be even better.

“I’m not daunted. It will be quite a good challenge for me, bowling against the likes of Tendulkar,” Rashid predicted.

“It’s always been my dream to bowl to Tendulkar – and I hope I’ll get him out.”

Rashid can test himself at a new level with his confidence refreshed after a five-wicket haul for his county in the Roses match at Old Trafford yesterday.

His 5-114 ended a barren run of almost two months without a County Championship wicket – and he does not anticipate any undue nerves against an India side playing their final preparation match before next week’s first Test.

“I don’t think it will be that difficult, because I know most of the lads there already,” he said of his Lions colleagues.

“I’ve played with them before with England A in Bangladesh.”

Tim Bresnan will be of help to his young team-mate Rashid

Amongst those in Rashid’s company in Essex will be his fellow Yorkshire all-rounder Tim Bresnan.

“It will be a help having him around, travelling down with him as well,” he added.

Rashid was never too concerned by a lack of first-class wickets during an 80-over run, during which he conceded nearly 300 runs.

“In the last few games I didn’t really perform. I was put under pressure – but I thought if I got it in the right area wickets would come,” he said.

“I’d been bowling quite well but not with all that much luck.”

The 19-year-old was determined not to get such growing pains out of proportion.

“You have to be careful not to try to take a wicket every ball, be patient and keep bowling your areas,” he explained.

“It feels good after a few weeks with no county action to get back into it – it’s a great environment to be in.”

Rashid spent some of that time engaged in the ECB's second ‘all-spin’ event – where he and others tested the techniques of up-and-coming batsmen against slow bowlers.

It was an exercise which he found instructive and enjoyable.

“Ashley Giles was there, and other young spinners were there – it was pretty good, a learning curve,” he reported.

As for his elevation to international colours, Rashid admits it has come a little sooner than he anticipated.

“I thought it would maybe take some time to develop, probably have a full season for first-class cricket and see how I go,” he said.