Warne eager to work with England’s Rashid

Cricket365
October 21, 2015

Australia leg-spinning legend Shane Warne says he'd be happy to work with England leggie Adil Rashid, and feels the Yorkshire man has a bright future as long as the ECB handle him correctly.

Rashid has not yet made his Test debut, but has played limited-overs cricket for England. Warne hopes that when Rashid does make his Test bow, that skipper Alastair Cook utilises him well.

Warne said: "I'd love to work with Rashid if the opportunity arose – 100 per cent. There’s been a lot of spinners I've helped over the years and I'm more than happy to talk to anyone.

"I think in my last year of county cricket (with Hampshire in 2007) Michael Vaughan, when he was captain of Yorkshire, asked if I could do him a favour and have a chat with Rashid.

"He (Rashid) was pretty young then but I had a good chat. He’s a pretty impressive kid, he’s been on the scene a while now. England have done pretty well with Rashid – they haven't rushed him.

"He seems to be bowling pretty well, it'll be great to see how Alastair Cook handles a leg spinner.

"It’s exciting. Let’s hope he grabs his opportunity because it'll be great to see England have a leg spinner."

For his part, Rashid was full of praise for another Australia bowling legend in Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie. Rashid says 'Dizzy' has helped refine his bowling over the years.

Rashid told the CA website of Gillespie's influence: "He’s brought a lot to my game. When he first came (to Headingley) he said 'keep it simple, just spin the ball'.

"Simple as that – 'spin it either way, you're going to have your good days and you're going to have your bad days.

"'It doesn't matter so long as you continue to have that same mindset all the time of spinning it and not looking to do other things'.

"That’s when I bowl my best and that’s when Dizzy knows I bowl my best.

"He brings a lot to any team that he goes into, he lets people play how they want to play, express themselves and enjoy their cricket."