With England fans understandably looking beyond the imminent one-day drubbing at the hands of India, the search for a second spinner for the forthcoming tour of Sri Lanka is truly on.
What better time for Adil Rashid to hit his maiden first-class hundred against Worcestershire.
The dominant view at present is that Adil Rashid should be held-back and given more time to prepare for international cricket. This view is usually expressed while simultaneously wondering who the hell else is up to the job.
Our gut instinct says that holding him back is right. However, why would you listen to your gastrointestinal tract? Since when has it been an authority on cricket? Since never, that’s when.
If Adil Rashid can both bat and bowl better than every other spinner (okay, Gary Keedy’s probably a better spinner) then what’s the point in not picking him? What are you protecting him from? International experience?
As a second spinner, he’s hardly likely to miss much county cricket next summer, like James Anderson and Liam Plunkett have in the past. For 90 percent of the time, there’s no such thing as a second English spinner. It’s not a permanent position.
If India can pick Piyush Chawla at 17, why can’t England pick Adil Rashid at 19? He won’t break, you know.
My worry is when you promote Adil what will happen to Monty?
Adil should be suppressed. For Monty’s sake.
And why is the “Mail” option required? Are you going to send me death threats? Or SPAM? Frankly, I’d perfer the former.
Surely everyone knows that Monty is The Spinner. We don’t think his title is under serious threat. Rashid’s currently competing with the likes of Mike Yardy and Gareth Batty.
The ‘mail’ bit’s only included to irritate you by forcing you to type more.
Its becoming ever apparent that Monty hardly turns the ball and with the bat hes awful its a team of 10 batsmen! It seems like only a matter of time before Rashid is alongside Monty, Who would you choose a off spinner who cant bat or a leg spinner that can bat and bat very well when times are hard ?