Englands Rashid Playing Without Fear

3 Sep 2016 | Cricket
Adil Rashid is now a key component of England\'s One Day International side and the Yorkshire leg-spinner is revelling in the added responsibility of spearheading the attack after progressing through the ranks with club and country.

Rashid, who is expected to line up for England against Pakistan in Cardiff tomorrow, has learned a lot from his time in Australia after featuring for Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash.

He has been facing up to some big-hitters but backs his ability to beat the bat with his vicious spin.

He said: "You can't be scared, even against the best in the world, you have to see opportunities everywhere."

The 28-year-old's ability to spin the ball has been much-hyped since he broke onto the scene in 2007, earning the Young Player Of The Player award by the Cricket Writers' Club.

"It came naturally," Rashid says of his wrist-spinning talents. "My dad showed my the basics. Perhaps my wrist is more flexible than most so I could could the two balls (leg spinner and googly) quite early. Then it was a case of developing and learning, getting more consistent."

Rashid was on England's radar for a few years before breaking into the ODI side and is now a regular fixture in white-ball cricket. 'Mystery' spin, or the knack of turning the ball both ways is a luxury for the best white-ball sides and Rashid offers a handy contrast to Moeen Ali's accurate off-spin and the pace provided by fellow Yorkshiremen Liam Plunkett and David Willey.

And Rashid now claims he has the compsure to go with his spinning talents.

"If you go for a couple of sixes or fours and get the wicket, then you've won the battle," he added. "But you have to keep ripping it, don't just bowl darts. The advice I give to kids is to spin the ball. Keep getting it above the eyeline and invite the batsman to drive."

The way Rashid is going, he could soon break into the England Test side and he will play a crucial role if England are to seal a One Day Series whitewash in Cardiff on Sunday. After that, he will be targeting a place in the England squad to travel to India.

England face Pakistan at The SSE SWALEC in Cardiff from 10.30am tomorrow (Sunday).