Here's @AdilRashid03 on Yorkshire's win in the UAE, England and maturing as a cricketer https://t.co/t0hdn73un3
— England Cricket (@ECB_cricket) March 25, 2015
Yorkshire all-rounder Adil Rashid feels his maturing as a cricketer has played a big part in his renaissance that has led to an international call-up.
Rashid has not played for England since 2009, when he bowled just three overs in a seven-wicket one-day international win over South Africa, but was called-up to form part of the 15-man touring party to travel to the West Indies for three Tests in April and May.
Since then, Rashid has fluctuated in form, but stormed back to his best last summer by taking 49 first-class wickets to help Yorkshire to the LV= County Championship Division One title, also aiding the cause with over 500 runs.
The 27-year-old leg-spinner puts his development down to experience, saying: “At first I was a bit immature but obviously now, being mature and having played the game for eight or nine years in first-class cricket, knowing my game, knowing my action, knowing how I perform and now all I’ve got to do is hopefully carry that on wherever I play.”
Rashid kicked off his season with match figures of 6-125 in Yorkshire's nine-wicket win over Marylebone Cricket Club in the annual Champion County match in Abu Dhabi, and he hopes to continue that form in the Caribbean with England.
“It felt nice to get some overs under my belt. It felt good to mix it up and be attacking,” he said. “The pitch was taking a bit of spin but it was nice to actually bowl with some control as well.
“I’m looking to work hard and get better day by day by improving in the nets.
“I think my game plan at the moment is fairly simple; to be attacking and bowl my variations and look to get wickets and that’s how it is at the moment so hopefully that can continue.
“If I look to just do my job if I do play, and just go out there and bowl and look to be attacking as I do for Yorkshire, I think hopefully everything will go well.”
Congrats @jbairstow21 @Liam628 @lythy09 @joeroot05 Gary Ballance @AdilRashid03 on @ECB_cricket call-up #YCCC #EngvWI pic.twitter.com/2tGktOtxzz
— Yorkshire CCC (@Yorkshireccc) March 18, 2015
Despite having been away from the England dressing room for a few years, it will not be an unfamiliar environment for Rashid, with five other Yorkshire players all due to travel with the squad.
Their presence will be important to the Bradford-born all-rounder, who admits the relationships will help him relax.
He said: “Obviously we’ve got all the Yorkies there, we’ve got the bowlers, batsmen, but it’s nice to have them around and have that banter with them on and off the field.
“I know their game and they know my game so when things are going well or not going well, they’re always there to help each other.”