Yorkshire CEO questions Rashid’s England Test recall

Yorkshire Chief Executive Officer Mark Arthur has questioned the decision to recall Adil Rashid to the England Test team to face India at Edgbaston on August 1.

Rashid made himself unavailable for selection for his county Yorkshire in first class cricket in order to focus on his white-ball skills as a key member of the limited overs national teams.

Chief Selector Ed Smith chose to recall Rashid due to a lack of cricket for Somerset spinners Dom Bess and Jack Leach who debuted in England’s last two Test series.

Speaking after Rashid was named in the England squad, Arthur said: “We’re very surprised that England have called Adil up after not playing red ball cricket this season. Neither has he expressed a desire to do so.

“I hope that England know what they’re doing to Adil, and the county game.”

Smith made it clear that going all players who have Test aspirations must make themselves available to play first-class cricket for their county side.

“Before the selection meeting, Adil had confirmed his availability to play Test cricket for England for whole of this summer and the upcoming winter tours to Sri Lanka and West Indies,” said Smith.

“Adil fully understands that if he wishes to be eligible for Test cricket in the 2019 season, he must have a county contract to play four-day cricket.

“Moving forward, England Test players must be committed to the county championship.”

ALSO READ: Rashid and Porter called into England Test squad

Earlier in the week former England captain Michael Atherton opined that Rashid should not be given an ‘easy route’ back into the team.

In his column for the Times, Atherton wrote: “Rashid must make himself available for domestic first-class cricket before a possible return to the Test team. It is important for every cricketer who has been dropped or ignored by the selectors but who chooses to fight for his place.

“There were many reasons why Rashid opted out of first-class cricket — disillusionment, T20 opportunities, lack of enjoyment — but bowling spin in long-form cricket is undoubtedly much harder, physically and mentally, than in one-day cricket

“It would be terrific to see him play Test cricket again but he took the easy route when he opted out of first-class cricket; he should not be given an easy route back in.”

England squad for first Test against India: Joe Root (c), Moeen Ali, Jimmy Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alastair Cook, Sam Curran, Keaton Jennings, Dawid Malan, Jamie Porter, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes.