The Adil Rashid England spot is no longer automatic. The leg-spinner sat out England's final three matches of last month's ODI tri-series against Pakistan and Sri Lanka, and his selection for the three-match series in Australia, which begins in Perth next Friday, is now an open question.
Adil Rashid England spot no longer a given
Rashid, 38, was recalled after England's 2015 World Cup exit at the group stage and formed part of the rebuild that ended with the 2019 final win over New Zealand at Lord's. He was also present for the 2022 T20 World Cup title in Australia and for the 2023 ODI World Cup and 2025 Champions Trophy campaigns in which England failed to leave their group.
Only James Anderson (269) has more ODI wickets for England than Rashid's 244. For years he was described from inside and outside the camp as the team's most important player. That description is now being tested.
The numbers behind the omission
Head coach Brendon McCullum gave a tactical reason for leaving Rashid out, saying Liam Dawson's left-arm spin was more beneficial in Pakistani conditions than Rashid's leg-breaks. The tri-series wicket list supports the logic: Arafat Minhas took nine wickets at 23.22, Dawson seven at 21.42 and Dunith Wellalage four at 48.25, all left-arm spinners.
Rashid's own 50-over returns have dipped. He has nine wickets in seven ODIs in 2026 at an average of 36.22 and a strike-rate of 37.50, after 30 wickets in 15 fixtures in 2025 at 23.63 and 24.10. His only tri-series appearance, against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, produced 1-55 from eight overs at an economy rate of 6.87.
Two further factors sit alongside the form line. Rashid picked up a hand injury towards the end of the English summer, and his central contract ends before the next 50-over World Cup in late 2027.
Michael Atherton on Rashid's Australia role
Sky Sports' Michael Atherton said the limited volume of Rashid's cricket outside the international game makes his current level hard to read.
"He plays so little outside of international cricket so you don't get a sense of where his game is at outside of those matches to see if there is a drop off. I think it will be absolutely fascinating in Australia. That is where you think a wrist spinner would come into his own so one assumes he will play. They will be important ODIs for him."
Can Dawson and Rashid fit in the same XI?
Selecting both spinners forces changes elsewhere in the order. If Rashid came in for seam-bowling all-rounder Sam Curran, Dawson would probably have to bat at No 7 — a position Sky Sports describes as feeling a spot too high. The same applies if Jamie Overton batted there above Dawson.
If Rashid replaced one of the main fast bowlers, Curran would have to serve as third seamer. On his tri-series evidence — four wickets at 54.75, an economy of 7.50 and spells that looked anodyne — Sky Sports frames that as a risk.
Will Jacks, Joe Root and potentially the returning Jacob Bethell offer slow-bowling options. That points to only one of Dawson and Rashid playing, and the identity of that one is less clear than it once was.
Analysis: the middle-overs cost of leaving Rashid out
This section is analysis. The tri-series results show where Rashid's usual overs were missed. Sri Lanka chased a target of 430 at Rawalpindi, and three days later in Lahore Pakistan recovered from 154-9 to reach 242.
England's Australia tour opens with the first ODI in Perth next Friday. The source lists ODI start times at 3.30am UK time and T20 start times at 8.15am UK time.
The original report is by skysports.com.
