A leg spinner is considered a blessing in limited overs cricket and Adil Rashid has proven to be England’s gentle showstopper with his consistency in providing
the breakthroughs and seizing the moments.
Not without reason has Rashid played a crucial role in England’s ODI and T20 World Cup triumphs in 2019 and 2022, respectively.
Rashid, 36, however, doesn’t consider himself to be a leg spinner but one in the mould of a “mystery” spinner.
“First, it’s really important to have, I won’t just say a leg spinner, but a mystery spinner, somebody who’s a bit unorthodox... people you don’t really see and find it a bit tricky to face and play,” Rashid told The Telegraph from Nottingham on Monday.
“So whether it’s leg spin or off spin, I would all put all of them in the same mould. And I also think it’s crucial to have somebody like that in your team because they create chances... If they have people like that, they should be taking wickets and trying to go for wickets as opposed to trying to defend runs.”
Rashid is a part of the England squad that takes on Australia in the three ODIs, beginning in Nottingham on Thursday. The series will be telecast live on Sony Sports Network.
Considering Rashid’s all-round abilities, he should have been an integral of the IPL, but has played only one match in 2021 for Sunrisers Hyderabad. But he has no regrets.
“Obviously the biggest franchise (cricket), one that I’ve really missed out on is IPL. There’s others (SA 20, Bangladesh Premier League, Pakistan Premier League) I have played,” he said.
“There’s no reason for that... Some I choose not to go because of England duties, because of rest and because of how I will prioritise my life. I don’t like to just keep going from franchise to franchise.
“I like to organise my life and weigh up my life in terms of playing or not playing.
I think everybody would be available for that because that is the biggest franchise tournament in the world. And it’s a big auction as well. It’s a big draft.
“A majority of the players would be involved in that. So it’s gonna be tough to get picked up as well... But let’s see what happens.”
Rashid’s recent visit to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir has also been the talking point though the leg spinner isn’t reading much into it. He usually reconnects with his family and relatives there every year and takes part in philanthropic work.
“In terms of work out there, it’s a bit more of the background of the families... Going back there, that’s a personal thing. The work I did there, some are private work... Help individuals... What I personally do, just like maybe help, help people. It’s a different thing.
“When there was an earthquake there some 3-4 years ago, I went out just to be there.
“Just to be around or whatever I can do to contribute in my own way. But that’s just that part of the world. But there’s obviously other parts of the world as well where you have your own thing which you keep private and confidential as well...
“...whatever your good deeds are in that sense. So I try to do whatever I can in
that way.”
