Through the ups and downs of England's white-ball cricket in the last decade, one of the constants has been Adil Rashid. The leg-spinner was recalled after the 2015 World Cup debacle and played a major part in the 2019 World Cup final victory over New Zealand at Lord's. He was also present for the 2022 T20 World Cup title in Australia. However, Rashid's spot is no longer a given. England left him out of their final three ODI tri-series games against Pakistan and Sri Lanka in the subcontinent last month. Head coach Brendon McCullum cited tactical reasons, stating Liam Dawson's left-arm darts were more beneficial in Pakistani conditions. The stats support this, with Arafat Minhas, Dawson, and Dunith Wellalage as the most prolific tri-series spinners. Rashid has nine wickets in seven ODIs in 2026 at an average of 36.22. In his sole tri-series game against Pakistan, he went for 6.87 an over. Despite this, Michael Atherton notes Rashid plays little outside international cricket, making his form hard to gauge. With his central contract ending before the 2027 World Cup, questions surround his future selection.
Is Rashid suffering from a lack of cricket? England leaving him out a few months ago would have been anathema. Still, his spot depends on conditions and form leading into the ODI series in Australia.
Source: Sky Sports Champions League · Summarized by HeadlinesBriefing