Is Adil Rashid the answer to England's spinning conundrum?

Is Adil Rashid the answer to England’s spinning conundrum?: Everything seems to be getting on the right track for England after their disastrous outing in the World Cup 2015. As far as Test cricket is concerned they outplayed their arch-rivals Australia 3-2 and regained the beloved Urn after their horrifying whitewash in Ashes 2013/14 down-under. And if we talk about their limited overs cricket, after the ouster of senior players like James Anderson, Stuart Broad, and Ian Bell from their squad, the team seems to be inhabiting a new team culture under the dynamic captaincy of Eoin Morgan while the Trevor Bayliss effect also seems to be positively rubbing on the side.

But yet there remains one riddle in their path to further kudos and glories which is a no secret. England are still looking for a replacement for Graeme Swann and still in hunt for a specialist spinner. Since his retirement, England has been struggling for a quality spinner in their side.

Though in English conditions you might not feel the desperation for a genuine spinner as such and much due to seaming conditions as well as the expertise of the impeccable pace duo of James Anderson and Stuart Broad, who have been one of the best in the history of cricket if we talk about bowling out oppositions, in home conditions specifically. But honestly speaking, Moeen Ali is certainly not going to win you matches in sub-continent and against top class, good against spin batsmen.

He had taken 12 wickets in 5 Ashes Tests unlike his performance against India, last summer. But that doesn’t take anything away from Moeen who was one of the shining stars in the Ashes series. But is he the lead spinner against batsmen like Younis Khan in Test matches in UAE or against the likes of AB de Villiers in ODIs in any part of the world? I certainly have strong doubts about that. England has always had the luxury of dependable specialist spinners in their side like Ashley Giles, Monty Panesar and Graeme Swann in the last decade or so, which has been the cog-wheel of their success.

But there are not only gloomy things covering English cricket as there is a man who perfectly fits in the frame of the English team, Adil Usman Rashid. Rashid is a leg-spinner, a breed which is facing a drought in international cricket if we bar few names. With leg-spinners you always know one thing, that there is going to be an odd bad delivery in the over and Rashid is no exception in that, though he is showing signs of control and maturation with time. With all the meticulous skills and variations of a leggie in his sleeves, Adil seems to be a mouth-watering prospect for the English side indeed.

This word prospect has been linked to him right since the days of his debut in English domestic circuit. He was drafted in the national side in 2009 but due to inconsistency and hiccups in his game, he was dropped. But now he is getting into the phase from where millions of UK fans can sense the ambiance of a dream leg-spinner in their side who will not only be a showpiece for his art but rather his art will help the English side win matches with flying colours.

His variations are particularly worth-mentioning. From being masterly apt at bowling traditional leg-spin to having the possession of a very good flipper which skids through quick and low after bouncing, a delivery which he used to outwit George Bailey in the 1^st ODI to his secret weapon googly, which spins majestically the other way, with which he out foxed David Warner in the 1^st ODI, the Yorskshiremen is now knocking the doors for Test selection as well apart from playing in limited overs game.

It doesn’t seem that there is any jeopardy to his place in the colourful jersey as he has taken 12 wickets in 7 matches, this year. The note-worthy point has been the fact that he scalps crucial breakthroughs for the side. He has two four-for’s. While with the bat he has averaged 31.50 with highest score of 69.

If we dig deep about his domestic performance then we find that Rashid is very good with the willow in hand as well, a thing which makes him a reliable player down the order. The 27-year-old has the experience of playing 138 First-class matches over 9 years with 406 scalps to his credit and with the bat Adil has amassed 5604 runs.

If England is serious about turning its fortunes in spin department, then certainly, there isn’t any better option in the country than Rashid right now. He just needs the right back-up in the team and if Alastair Cook and Eoin Morgan can manage this prodigal leggie then certainly their biggest woes for a genuine spinner can be solved. Only time will tell whether Rashid can deliver the expectations and hype which he has created or he will vanish in darkness with time. Till then fingers crossed.