Harry Brook defended England’s choice to omit Adil Rashid in their recent thrilling ODI against Sri Lanka, resulting in a narrow two-wicket loss. Rashid, widely respected as England’s second-highest wicket-taker in ODIs, was notably seen serving drinks during the match.
Adil Rashid, now 38, has been pivotal for England’s white-ball side over the past decade, frequently featuring in the squad since June 2015. Despite several absences due to injuries, he has seldom been excluded when fit to play. England verified Rashid’s fitness for Thursday’s match in Rawalpindi but opted for the tactical inclusion of Liam Dawson, a left-arm spinner, in his place. Rashid’s previous performance against Pakistan, where he took 1 for 55 from eight overs, might have influenced the decision, though seeing him not playing was unexpected.
In a game where Harry Brook’s stunning double hundred wasn’t enough to secure victory, he noted that Dawson justified his selection by recording 1 for 71 from his allotted 10 overs. “Even in hindsight, I don’t know,” remarked Brook. “We brought Daws in for Rash, and I think Daws was probably the pick of the bowlers.”
This year, Rashid’s form in ODIs has been somewhat subdued, garnering 12 wickets from 10 matches at an average of 39.58 with an economy rate of 6.01. Commenting on Sky Sports, ex-England captain Nasser Hussain noted Rashid’s perceived decline. “Adil Rashid, in the last two or three years… he’s just dropped off from his best,” he remarked, highlighting the urgency for Rashid’s resurgence with the World Cup looming.
As the series progresses to Lahore, Rashid is anticipated to be back in contention against Pakistan. Mason Crane, meanwhile, joins the touring party as backup legspinner, though he has yet to make an appearance.
England’s loss to Sri Lanka marked the second-highest successful run chase in ODI history, won dramatically with one ball remaining. Reflecting on the game, Brook observed, “The bowling, we probably didn’t execute… well, we definitely didn’t execute what we were trying to do for long enough.”
Despite setting a personal record as England’s first ODI double centurion, Brook felt it was of little consolation due to the match’s outcome. “I always say I want to make match-winning contributions,” he stated. “Unfortunately, I’ve got 200 and it’s not been match-winning.”
As England prepares for the next fixtures, recalibrating their bowling strategy might be key after the setbacks faced against Sri Lanka.
