County Championship: Why Adil Rashid Has to Be England's Next Superstar

It must be hard to be on a cricket nation's board of selectors. Australia's, after the recent Ashes defeat, was much maligned for using approximately 19 spinners during the five match series who had a total of 11 first class games between them. Then there is those who sit on the West Indies' board. I imagine that job to be akin to being in a teeth-clenchingly cheesy sitcom.

But the board that must take the most heat is England's. I need mention only one name - Darren Pattinson. But instead, I'll go on: Amjad Khan, Jon Lewis, Owais Shah, Ian Blackwell and still I could go on. Granted, in recent times results have improved and selection has become more consistent, especially in the Test arena, but there are still definite areas of concern such as the ODI batting line-up, the T20 opening partnership and whatever to do with Paul Collingwood.

Then there is their most glaring oversight to date, and the crux of this article, the treatment of Adil Rashid.

In 2008, rumours starting emanating from Headingley that there was a youngster who could turn a ball and bat. And he was English. And a leggie. An English leg spinner.

In 2009, and still only 20 years old, he played his first International cricket in the form of a five match ODI series against the West Indies. Whilst he did nothing to particularly special, he was given another chance to shine in the World Twenty20 in England later that year where he was poor. We was even worse in his last international appearance, a T20 hammering at the hands of South Africa where the one over he bowled went for 25.

This being the England cricket team, he was dropped, sent back to county cricket where he was no doubt told to prove he could be the cricketer everyone saw in him etc. and his chance would come again.

Since then, it's hard to see what Rashid has done wrong. In the 2010 County Championship, Rashid averaged 31 with the ball and 45 with the bat helping Yorkshire finish second in a League they were hot favourites to be relegated from. He was signed up by South Australia for the 2010 Big Bash, where he would frequnetly open the bowling and was a key performer as his team won the trophy. This stint included a return of 3-15 off his allocation against Victoria who count Michael Hussey and Cameron White amongst their batsmen.

Then there was a string of solid perfomances for the England Lions in the Carribbean, where he bowled at 28, before his call up to the World Cup side to replace a depressed Michael Yardy came through and there was a hope he might get another chance.

Needless to say, he didn't.

Now, this article comes on the back of another match winning performance from Rashid after Yorkshire's demolition of Worcstershire at New Road on the first weekend of the 2011 Championship (where he took his first 10-fer), and I feel like it's a perfect moment to state why Rashid must feature some part in the upcoming international summer.

Firstly, there's the above statistics. To go with these he has a better first class batting average than Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara and Luke Wright and a better bowling average than both Yardy and James Tredwell, who currently seems to occupy England's No.2 spinning option. More on that below.

Secondly, he's an attacking cricketer. Look at the success Greame Swann has had as an attacking spinner. Yes, he's going to go for runs on occasions, but he'll always get wickets. He plays most of his cricket on seamer friendly pitches (especially his home ground, Headingley) and still picks up wickets, especially against the lower order.

Thirdly, he's a much better prospect than those currently ahead of him. Michael Yardy is spent in the international arena now. His 'darts' were only going to work for so long, and it's clear he is not confident enough to try his variations against the better batsmen.

James Tredwell is Graeme Swann-lite. He can't turn it as much, seems reluctant to give the ball flight and can't bat for toffee. More importantly, he's an off spinner, like Swann, and there's no good reason to have them both playing in the same XI.

Rashid would offer the option of a leg spinner in an environment where there are hardly any, and in an ODI situation where ends need tying up a Rashid/Swann combo would be ideal. Not only this but he bats better than the above two - he is a genuine allrounder.

Fourth, he's still only 23. With match time, he's only going to get better. He's no longer a great prospect, he's a great player.

Let him show the world.