Rashid eyes Ashes squad role

Yorkshire's legspinner, Adil Rashid, has set his sights on an Ashes call-up in a summer in which England's trump card against Australia could well be the depth and versatility of their slow bowling.

Rashid, who was picked by England for his first senior tour in the Caribbean this winter, knows that he is currently a long way down the pecking order behind Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar. Nevertheless, at the age of 21, an international cap is already a matter of when, not if, and Rashid is ready to take whatever comes his way this summer.

"My main aim is just to keep bowling and get wickets for Yorkshire, and if I can get a part in the Ashes squad, that would be a great experience for me," Rashid told Cricinfo. "I know what's got to be done, I just need to keep performing and working hard, and looking to improve. If I can do that, there's a great chance to break into the England team.

"It was a great experience going to the West Indies with the main squad," he said. "There are some big names in the England squad, and I'd never been to the Caribbean before, so I had to learn about different conditions and different pitches, but it was a great experience in general."

Rashid was a guest this week of the Yorkshire Bank Community Cricket Talent Programme, which aims to uncover 150 talented young cricketers in the region by 2012. "I think the main aim for any young player is to break into the Test team," he said. "Twenty20 is more there for the fans, because there's more excitement. But the real cricket only happens at Test level.

For wristspinners in particular, who rely on rhythm and thrive in long spells, the demands of Twenty20 cricket are hard to cope with. "It's part of the game and it's got to be done, but when you're coming on for two overs then coming off again, it is difficult to get the pace and rhythm right. But Twenty20 do teach you where to bowl, how to bowl and when to bowl, and if a batter gets after you, what to bowl."

Rashid is something of an anomaly in the world game at present. Since the retirement of Shane Warne, legspin has ceased to be the pre-eminent form of slow bowling, with fingerspinners such as Swann, Panesar and Daniel Vettori taking centre stage instead. "There are not many around," said Rashid. "There are a couple in county cricket, but it is pretty tough because it's a difficult art in general. You have your bad days and good days, but when you get it right it's a great sight."

He did not witness the traumatic debut of Australia's Bryce McGain, who conceded 149 runs in 18 wicketless overs against South Africa in Cape Town earlier this year, but Rashid agreed with the assessment of Warne that legspinners need a lot of love as they try to make their way in the game.

"You've got to be looked after," said Rashid. "If you get hit for a six and a four, the captain must accept that a legspinner is also a 'risk' spinner. He goes for runs but he's there to take wickets as well. It shouldn't be a bad thing if he gets hit for a six or a four, he shouldn't be taken off in the next over."

Another factor in Rashid's favour, however, is the rapid development of his batting. With two first-class centuries to his name already, he added an unbeaten 58 against Warwickshire earlier this month to get his 2009 season underway. "I think I'll always be a legspinner first and foremost, but I'm batting pretty well this season," he said. "I've been working closely with a few players, and I think the middle order, about 5 or 6, is my natural spot."