England not in Rashid thinking

2:43pm Wednesday 20th August 2008

Adil Rashid is deflecting any talk of a possible England call-up, preferring to concentrate on helping Yorkshire win every single game between now and the end of the season.

Rashid’s recent County Championship performances have sparked the odd whisper that he could become part of England’s squad to tour India before Christmas.

The promising Bradford leg-spinner has now taken 41 Championship wickets, including hauls of seven and five in his last two games, and has notched a total of 20 victims in his last three games.

But he said: “I think at the moment I have just got to concentrate on Yorkshire. If I can do that, then hopefully England will not be too far away for me.”

Yorkshire director of professional cricket Martyn Moxon has already said he does not believe 20-year-old Rashid is ready for international cricket.

Yorkshire turn their attentions to the NatWest Pro40 League Division Two tomorrow night, as they travel to play struggling Derbyshire in a floodlit clash.

The Tykes are five points behind leaders Essex with two games in hand and Rashid said: “We have played three and won two of them.

“We have got five games left and if we win three of them we should be right up there.”

Three wins would see Yorkshire vying for one of the two automatic promotion spots, with the additional play-off position a back-up target.

Rashid said: “Our aim is to win each and every competition we play in, so we want to win the Pro40 League and the Championship.”

Yorkshire continue their Pro40 campaign with a game against second-placed Kent at Scarborough on Monday, the beginning of a two-week spell of action at North Marine Road which sees two Championship games and another Pro40 fixture.

Rashid said: “It’s my favourite ground. I made my debut there and it was where it all began for me. It always seems to turn quite a bit for me.”

Wicketkeeper Simon Guy replaces Gerard Brophy, who has a minor injury to the middle finger on his right hand, in a 13-man squad. Guy played as a specialist batsman during the Twenty20 Cup.

Tim Bresnan is away on England duty, so pace bowling duo Steve Patterson and Deon Kruis come into contention for a first appearance in this competition.

Derbyshire were bowled out for just 60 in their last game against Kent at Canterbury on Monday afternoon and lost by nine wickets.

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