Adil Rashid admits he was surprised to be offered a recall to Englands Test squad after making a tough decision to make himself available once again.
Rashids brief Test career appeared to be over after he signed a white-ball only contract with Yorkshire at the start of the year.
But the leg-spinner impressed in the recent one-day games against India and has earned a shock recall to Englands squad to face India in a Test series next month.
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He says he decided to make himself available last week after a discussion with Ed Smith, Englands National Selector.
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After the ODIs there was a discussion that me and Ed had, just regarding – you know – how you feel about playing, or being part of the squad, this summer against India, he told Sky Sports.
So obviously I had to think about it, considering I hadnt played red-ball game for a little while; but this opportunity I couldnt buy at it – I had to think about it and make a decision.
I said Ill make myself available and if you guys want to select me in the squad then Ill come and try my best.
It was definitely a tough decision and obviously I was kind of surprised because to get back in the Test side usually people have to go back to your county and perform to be considered.
But me, Ed Smith and a few others had a chat and they were thinking that if I could be made available and do whatever the job is in the team – to be attacking or whatever – wed be happy for you to be in the squad.
That was something I had to think about and Ive made that decision to be made available.
Rashid, 30, played the last of his ten Tests in India over 18 months ago and is in contention to play his first home Test next week against the same opposition.
Having enjoyed success against India in the one-day format, Rashid hopes to adopt a similarly attacking role if he is picked for the first Test in Birmingham.
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My role, hopefully, going into the team would be as it was for the ODIs and T20s – as how Morgs uses me. It will be exactly the same but with a red ball, he added.
It will be to come in and try to take wickets, create chances – thatll be your job because if you do play two spinners, the other spinner can maybe look to keep it under twos or threes and my job will be to create the chances and hopefully get wickets.
Yorkshire have expressed their concern at Rashids selection but the player says he is open to resuming his red-ball career at Headingley after rejecting the format earlier in the year.
More: Cricket
Going back to Yorkshire thats something we need to sit down and discuss about the future, he said.
But for now obviously Yorkshire have got the news and from there Yorkshire, England and myself are dealing with the situation as it is.
Moving forward I know that if I want to be available for Test cricket, I need to be playing red-ball cricket. When that time comes Im sure well sit down and make a decision.
If the opportunity is there then Ill try my best to play four-day cricket as well.
MORE: Former England captain Michael Vaughan slams Adil Rashids Test recall for India series
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Adil Rashid admits he was surprised to be offered a recall to Englands Test squad after making a tough decision to make himself available once again.
Rashids brief Test career appeared to be over after he signed a white-ball only contract with Yorkshire at the start of the year.
But the leg-spinner impressed in the recent one-day games against India and has earned a shock recall to Englands squad to face India in a Test series next month.
More: Cricket
He says he decided to make himself available last week after a discussion with Ed Smith, Englands National Selector.
Advertisement Advertisement
After the ODIs there was a discussion that me and Ed had, just regarding – you know – how you feel about playing, or being part of the squad, this summer against India, he told Sky Sports.
So obviously I had to think about it, considering I hadnt played red-ball game for a little while; but this opportunity I couldnt buy at it – I had to think about it and make a decision.
I said Ill make myself available and if you guys want to select me in the squad then Ill come and try my best.
It was definitely a tough decision and obviously I was kind of surprised because to get back in the Test side usually people have to go back to your county and perform to be considered.
But me, Ed Smith and a few others had a chat and they were thinking that if I could be made available and do whatever the job is in the team – to be attacking or whatever – wed be happy for you to be in the squad.
That was something I had to think about and Ive made that decision to be made available.
Rashid, 30, played the last of his ten Tests in India over 18 months ago and is in contention to play his first home Test next week against the same opposition.
Having enjoyed success against India in the one-day format, Rashid hopes to adopt a similarly attacking role if he is picked for the first Test in Birmingham.
Advertisement Advertisement
My role, hopefully, going into the team would be as it was for the ODIs and T20s – as how Morgs uses me. It will be exactly the same but with a red ball, he added.
It will be to come in and try to take wickets, create chances – thatll be your job because if you do play two spinners, the other spinner can maybe look to keep it under twos or threes and my job will be to create the chances and hopefully get wickets.
Yorkshire have expressed their concern at Rashids selection but the player says he is open to resuming his red-ball career at Headingley after rejecting the format earlier in the year.
More: Cricket
Going back to Yorkshire thats something we need to sit down and discuss about the future, he said.
But for now obviously Yorkshire have got the news and from there Yorkshire, England and myself are dealing with the situation as it is.
Moving forward I know that if I want to be available for Test cricket, I need to be playing red-ball cricket. When that time comes Im sure well sit down and make a decision.
If the opportunity is there then Ill try my best to play four-day cricket as well.
MORE: Former England captain Michael Vaughan slams Adil Rashids Test recall for India series
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