Rashid gives us attacking option, says Root

Adil Rashid’s selection for the first Test against India has dominated the headlines here and when it was announced the leg-spinner had made the playing XI, skipper Joe Root was bombarded with questions about the move to include a player who had signed a white-ball only contract with Yorkshire this season.

“Looking at the surface we decided we only want to go with one spinner and that’s going to be Adil. They (Mooen Ali and Rashid) both bring different things to the table but with the number of right-handers in India’s team, he gives us a very attacking option. I’m very excited about that. He’s bowling with a huge amount of confidence at the minute, seems in a really good place with his game, has matured a hell of a lot since he last played Test cricket and I feel this is a really good side that gives us the best chance of winning in these conditions,” said Root.

Root, though, felt in the future ECB should pick guys who are committed to playing the County Championship. “It’s a very unique scenario. Ed’s (Ed Smith, ECB National Selector) came out and said the gist of things but ultimately the decision has been made that moving forward you have to be playing red-ball cricket as of next year.”

England have had a rough ride from the time they were drubbed 4-0 by Australia in the Ashes last year. They lost 1-0 to New Zealand away and had to rally at home to hold Pakistan 1-1 just before this series. Root, however, said his young side is looking forward to this series with hope.

“We’ve had two disappointing series so far in terms of results but I thought the way we came back at Headingley against Pakistan was a real starting point for this group and something to build on long-term. That is where we are at — five games against the World No 1 side where we can make a statement if we play well and win.”