England vs India: Adil Rashid recalled to Test squad for first time since 2016

Rashid only has a white-ball contract with Yorkshire this summer but has made himself available for Tests

Rashid has not played Test cricket since 2016 (Action Plus via Getty Images)

Adil Rashid has been called up by England for a Test match for the first time since 2016 for the upcoming series against India.

The leg-spinner’s fine form this summer, where he has taken 20 one-day international wickets against India and Australia at an average of 23.95, has persuaded selectors to recall him to the red-ball format.

Rashid’s last appearance in the Test arena was also against India, in the fifth Test in Chennai in December 2016. Should he be selected it will be his first Test appearance on home soil, having earned his previous 10 caps on the road.

Moeen Ali also returns to the 13-man squad for the first time since being dropped after the tour of New Zealand earlier this year and is joined by Essex seamer Jamie Porter for his first Test call-up. Porter was named County Championship Player of the Year in 2017 as he helped Essex to their first title since 1992.

Chris Woakes, Dom Bess and Jack Leach all miss out on selection however, for what will be England’s 1,000^th men’s Test match.

“The selection panel felt that Chris Woakes needed a little more time to regain full form,” national selector Ed Smith said. “We are keen to avoid rushing him back from injury too soon.

“Adil Rashid also returns to the England Test squad. Before the selection meeting, Adil had confirmed his availability to play Test cricket for England for whole of this summer and the upcoming winter tours to Sri Lanka and West Indies. Following his earlier decision in February 2018, Adil has a white-ball only contract to play for Yorkshire this summer. That arrangement is unchanged by his selection for England. However, Adil fully understands that if he wishes to be eligible for Test cricket in the 2019 season, he must have a county contract to play four-day cricket. Moving forward, England Test players must be committed to the county championship.

“Clearly, the one-off circumstances around Adil’s return to the Test squad are unusual. However, the selection panel was unanimous in believing that Adil should be selected in England’s squad.”

England Test squad to face India at Edgbaston:

Joe Root (Yorkshire) captain

Moeen Ali (Worcestershire)

Jimmy Anderson (Lancashire)

Jonny Bairstow (Yorkshire) wicketkeeper

Stuart Broad (Nottinghamshire)

Jos Buttler (Lancashire)

Alastair Cook (Essex)

Sam Curran (Surrey)

Keaton Jennings (Lancashire)

Dawid Malan (Middlesex)

Jamie Porter (Essex)

Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)

Ben Stokes (Durham)