Adil Rashid set for recall to England Test team after one-day heroics

Trevor Bayliss has indicated Adil Rashid is in line for a Test recall for the series against India despite the fact the leg-spinner opted out of playing red-ball cricket earlier in the year.

The England head coach was fulsome in his praise of Rashid after he starred in the one-day series win against India, the highlight of which was an outrageous delivery that bowled Virat Kohli in the deciding match at Headingley on Tuesday.

The 30-year-old made the last of his 10 Test appearances against India in Chennai in December 2016 and had seemingly abandoned his ambitions to play any more when he signed a white-ball-only contract with Yorkshire at the start of the summer.

Speaking the immediate aftermath of England’s win at Headingley, Rashid indicated he would reconsider that stance, saying: “At this moment in time I’m just concentrating on white-ball cricket. But in the meantime if something comes about I’ll be happy.”

Bayliss has said chief selector Ed Smith, who picked Jos Buttler based purely on white-ball form for the first Test series of the summer against Pakistan, is likely to have a conversation with Rashid to gauge his appetite for a return – potentially for the first Test at Edgbaston starting on 1 August.

“That’s a decision Adil’s got to make,” said Bayliss. “I’m not sure whether Ed Smith’s had a chat with him or not. Could he get picked in the Test team on white-ball form? It’s already happened once this year. I’m sure he’ll be up for discussion, definitely.

“This year is probably the best we’ve seen him bowl. His control and his consistency has been top class.”

Bayliss confirmed Ben Stokes will play in the first Test against India despite fears he could be distracted by his impending court case.

The all-rounder will miss the second match of the series at Lord’s as it clashes with his trial at Bristol Crown Court on a charge of affray.

Given the scheduled conclusion of the Edgbaston Test is just a day before the trial starts it would be understandable if England decided to overlook Stokes.

However, Bayliss said: “Ben’s the all-round package and just lifts everyone. Look, it’s not the best situation not having him there for Lord’s but we want him available for as many games as possible.”

Sun 5 May England v Pakistan Vitality IT20 5pm Sophia Gardens, Cardiff

Wed 8 May England v Pakistan 1st Royal London ODI D/N 1pm Kia Oval

Sat 11 May England v Pakistan 2nd Royal London ODI 11am Ageas Bowl

Tue 14 May England v Pakistan 3rd Royal London ODI D/N 1pm Brightside Ground, Bristol

Fri 17 May England v Pakistan 4th Royal London ODI D/N 1pm Trent Bridge

Sun 19 May England v Pakistan 5th Royal London ODI 11am Headingley

Wed 24-Sat 27 July England v Ireland 4-day Test Lord’s

Thu 1-Mon 5 Aug England v Australia 1st Test Edgbaston

Wed 14-Sun 18 Aug England v Australia 2nd Test Lord’s

Thu 22-Mon 26 Aug England v Australia 3rd Test Emerald Headingley

Wed 4-Sun 8 Sept England v Australia 4th Test Emirates Old Trafford

Thu 12-Mon 16 Sept England v Australia 5th Specsavers Test Kia Oval

* Does not include Cricket World Cup fixtures

Meanwhile, England have confirmed a schedule for next summer that includes an historic four-day first Test against Ireland.

The four-day contest at Lord’s, starting on 24 July, will be England’s first Test scheduled to last fewer than five days since 1971.

Ireland, who gained Test status last year and lost their first match against Pakistan in May, will act as an Ashes warm-up for England.

That series against Australia, the first to be played as part of the new ICC Test Championship, will start at Edgbaston on 1 August, with further Tests at Lord’s, Headingley, Old Trafford and The Oval.