England Test skipper Joe Root supported the controversial selection of veteran leg-spinner Adil Rashid for the first Test against India starting on August 1, admits England selector Ed Smith.
Meanwhile, Rashid made a comeback even though he opted not to play the County Championship. Rashid signed a contract with Yorkshire only for the limited-overs series.
However, riding on his limited-overs show, he made his way to the Test team. The last time Adil Rashid played Test cricket was against India in Chennai, 18 months back. His comeback created a wide range of debate with former skipper Michael Vaughan slamming it as ridiculous.
But, the chief of selectors Ed Smith and his panel was adamant to rope in Adil Rashid.
Smith while talking to the reporters after the announcement admitted that Joe Root was also comfortable with the move.
“We are fully aware of the summer we are having and the likelihood that the pitches are going to turn,” Smith said. “The decision was a unanimous one, the decision-makers being myself, James Taylor and coach Trevor Bayliss, and also round that table was Joe Root,” he added.
Ed Smith further noted that his job to put the best squad forward and he has only done his job. On the other hand, Adil Rashid expressed his surprise post the announcement.
“I was kind of surprised. To get back in the Test side, usually, people have got to go back to their counties and perform to be considered,” Adil Rashid told Sky Sports.
India will play a five-match Test series over a period of the next two months against the Joe Root led-side.
