The advent of T10 cricket and the employment of unconventional shots are throwing fresh challenges at the bowlers and England leg-spinner Adil Rashid feels they will have to be brave and confident enough to stand up to the task.

Rashid is turning up for Delhi Bulls in the ongoing edition of Abu Dhabi T10.

“It can be difficult because in this day and age you are playing on smaller grounds, flatter pitches and bigger bats. Batsmen are hitting the ball further so they can be a bit difficult especially if you get hit for a couple of games in a row for sixes and fours. It can play on your mind,” Rashid said.

“But the most important thing as a spinner is to maintain that confidence knowing that you are a match-winner, you can change the game in 3 or 4 or 5 balls by getting a key wicket. You need to prepare well at nets, work on your variations like googlies, slides, etc, and prepare yourself mentally as well.”

Rashid has become a key player in England’s limited-overs scheme of things over the last couple of years. The leg-spinner has also made a name for himself by playing in several leagues across the world.

On how a bowler is accepting the challenging nature of T20/T10, he said, “In these formats of cricket, you are going to get hit, that’s the nature of the game… not just spinner but also fast bowlers and whoever you are, whether you are the world’s best or whatever. “Everybody in T20 cricket does get hit as a bowler. It’s just how you put your head around the fact and try and get wickets.”

Rashid was part of the England team that played in the recently-held T20 World Cup in the UAE.