Rashid believes spin could be key for England at the World Cup

Adil Rashid (Image - ICC)

May 25 (CRICKETNMORE) - Adil Rashid believes he and fellow spin twin Moeen Ali hold the key to the hosts' World Cup dreams. England arrive for their latest bid to claim a maiden ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup as the favourites, thanks to their status as the top-ranked ODI side in the world.

Since 2015, they have won 15 of 19 ODI series and Rashid has played a major part in that impressive run - indeed no other bowler has taken more than his 129 ODI wickets since the 2015 World Cup.

But England’s new pin-up boy Archer is the talk of the town, while India captain Virat Kohli hyped up the prospect of the hosts becoming the first side to score 500 runs in an innings.

“The spinners try to work hard and help each other, and we are always looking to develop and get better,” said Rashid.

“We are working on our games and we want to win games for England. I think in this World Cup, the spinners can be the ones who do that.

“I am excited, it should be good fun. All the team and squad are really looking forward to it so if we can keep calm then everything should fall into place.

“Mo and I are very close, we both know each other’s bowling very well. We can win games for England and so we share that excitement.” 

Rashid’s rise has almost been as sharp as England’s. It is almost ten years since he made his ODI debut but he struggled to hold down a place consistently and missed the 2015 World Cup.

The leg-spinner’s talent has never been questioned since he first emerged for Yorkshire in 2006 but he admits it has taken him longer than expected to fully mature.

However, now he has, he insists there is still so much more to come.

“It is ten years and it feels like a long time. Over the past four years, the experience I have built up has shown,” he added.

“I have developed quicker and I have allowed myself to become better.

“When I was younger, my focus was not quite what it is now. You live and learn and it’s in these last few years where I feel like I have realised my potential.

“Hopefully that shows here and I have got another ten years left in me.”

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ICC