ENGLAND hopeful Adil Rashid is determined to maintain the attacking mindset which has served him so well for Yorkshire over the last 12 months when he gets to the West Indies next week.
The Bradfordian all-rounder's exceptional form in county cricket last summer has earned him a recall to the international fold after five-and-a-half years away, with him tipped to make his Test debut in Antigua on April 13.
Rashid, 27, has an identical bowling record in one-day and Twenty20 international cricket – three wickets in five matches in both formats in 2009, the same year he was picked for a Test tour of the West Indies but never played.
The leg-spinner has since endured difficulties in county cricket but last year he was exceptional in all forms. His overall record in 2014 saw him take 90 wickets and score 846 runs in 37 matches.
"When I first got picked (by England), I was perhaps a little immature," said Rashid, who took six wickets and scored 42 runs in Yorkshire's champion county win over the MCC in Abu Dhabi this week.
"Now I'm more mature having played the first-class game for eight or nine years. I know my game and my action.
"I felt quite attacking and created chances (against the MCC) – and whoever I play for, England or Yorkshire, that's my job in any form of the game.
"Some days it might not work. But if I continue that mindset and have that attitude, there should be a lot more good days than bad.
"If I do get the nod, I will look to take it as any other game – like a game I play for Yorkshire. I will look to go out there and enjoy myself, express myself, bowl my variations and be attacking. Then, whatever happens, happens.
"It will be the same with the bat – look to be positive. That's how I play my cricket."
Rashid is in direct competition with Kent off-spinner James Tredwell to replace Moeen Ali when England travel to the Caribbean next Thursday.
Tredwell, who can also bat, only took 43 wickets and scored 394 runs in 29 matches for Kent and Sussex last year. He lost his Championship place at Kent to Adam Riley and had to be loaned out to Sussex to get some four-day cricket.
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