Bigstar Interviews
Adil Rashid Exclusive Interview: The third edition of Bigstarcricket's 'Young Players to Look Out For in 2008' series. 'Dilly' talks about how Terry Jenner, Shane Warne and Younis Khan have helped him, and his England ambitions.
By
May 10, 2008, 09:27

YOUNG PLAYERS TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2008: Bigstarcricket is publishing a series of interviews with players to keep an eye on in 2008 - starlets who could be the Test and ODI stars of tomorrow. Our latest interview is with Adil Rashid.

Yorkshire’s leg-spinning all-rounder Adil Rashid, 20, is making a name for himself as the first candidate to bowl genuine leg-spin for England for almost a decade. He played for England Lions against the New Zealanders this month and although the campaign to promote him to the full England squad is gaining momentum, his county coach Martyn Moxon said he “needs to be left alone to play his cricket” because “he is not ready for international cricket yet”. Moxon and those close to him do not want him to be the next Chris Schofield, the last young leg-spinner picked by England in 2001. The rookie was released by his county four years after.

Your success seems to have happened very quickly. Have you come to terms with the fact you are a growing star in the game?
I am surprised by how quickly everything has happened for me. I have only played one full season but I have had a lot of good people around me and Yorkshire have given me a lot of experience in the first team.

You took 6-67 on your first-class debut against Warwickshire at Scarborough in July 2006 and then scored 114 and took 8-157 for England Under-19s against India two weeks later. Was that when it all started to happen for you?
Yeah I think so. The debut gave me a lot of confidence and a real boost. Since that time I have played every Championship game for Yorkshire. I just want to kick on even more and not stand still.

How excited are you about living up to the hype and playing for England?
It would be a dream come true but I have to perform for my county first. If I look too far ahead things can go wrong. I’m a down to earth character and if somebody says I will be playing for England soon I won’t think too much about it and will get on with my game.”

I know your county Yorkshire are trying to protect you from being over-hyped but the thought of playing in the Ashes next year must have crossed your mind at some point?
Everybody’s dream is to play for England and in the Ashes but Yorkshire want to protect me and don’t want to expose me too early. You see cricketers aged 19 or 20 on their debut and sometimes they don’t do so well and can go down very quickly. They are trying to prevent that happening to me.

What has it been like having Terry Jenner as your coach, the man who helped make Shane Warne the great bowler he was?
I have worked with him since I was 15 and have been to Australia twice to see him - he’s been a great help. He helps me technically more than anything, like where my front foot should be and my front arm alignment and very technical aspects like that. It’s exciting to be working with the man who coached the best leg-spinner ever.

Have you ever met Warne?
Yes once. I approached him for some advice after we played Hampshire at the Rose Bowl last year. He was happy to speak to me and seemed as though he enjoys helping young players. We spoke for 20 minutes after the game about leg-spin in general. He told me how he tries to react when things are not going so well and how to work out a batsman. He was a really good guy.

Another senior Test player I hear you have spent some time with is Pakistan batsman Younis Khan, when he was the Yorkshire overseas player in 2007?
He was a good influence on me and was very good for the club. We drove everywhere together around the county circuit, from Manchester to Leeds to Southampton. The thing I learned from him most was the way he went about his cricket. Whether he got any runs or not he would be back in the changing room laughing, smiling and chatting. Other players will dwell on their disappointment but he showed me how to not allow the low times drag you down. I also used to dwell on things too much so I have now added parts of his game into my own.

Presumably you come from a cricketing background given that your two brothers are also cricketers?
Yeah we all loved cricket from a young age but my Dad didn’t play at all he was just a cricket-mad supporter who used to watch cricket on the TV. We became interested in cricket just from watching the TV with our Dad. I supported England and Pakistan in those days.

Who would be your role models?
I would have to say Shane Warne and Sachin Tendulkar. I’ve met Shane Warne but I have never spoken to Sachin.

Talking of role models, there are several talented British Asians playing county cricket. Do you think that pool of ability is tapped enough in England?
There aren’t that many Asians who have played cricket at the highest level for England so I do feel like a bit of a role model to young British Asians. Hopefully I can just keep improving.

Adil Rashid was speaking to Bigstarcricket.com Managing Editor Richard Sydenham

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