The English leg-spinner Adil Rashid has given an apt reply to the criticism from former England captain Michael Vaughan over his selection for the first Test against India at Edgbaston next week, calling Vaughan’s comments “stupid”.
Despite the fact that Rashid had made himself available for the first-class cricket, he has been selected in the Test squad. The decision by Ed Smith has angered many who think the county system has been demeaned by Rashid’s selection above Somerset pair Jack Leach and Dom Bess, who have both been playing Championship cricket.
At hearing the news, Vaughan also weighed in on Twitter, calling the decision “ridiculous”, and in his column for The Telegraph, he wrote that Rashid’s selection sent out the message that “our county game, the finishing school for our cricketers, does not matter anymore and that it is irrelevant”.
So we have picked someone who cannot be arsed with 4 day cricket for the Test Team … Forget whether he is good enough or not I find this decision ridiculous … !!!
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 26, 2018
Rashid, who has taken 38 wickets in 10 Tests at an average of 42.78, says he is not bothered by the criticism directed at him by Vaughan. As quoted in BBC sport, Adil said, “He can say a lot and he thinks people might listen, but I don’t think they do. When I mentioned at the start of the year I will not be playing red-ball cricket, he tweeted something then. He was being controversial and saying his stupid things then too. It is about getting people to like what he says.”
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He further added, “I don’t think he has an agenda against me. I played under and with him but sometimes ex-players come out and start talking nonsense about current players. If he wants to carry on talking just because he is bored with nothing better to say, then that is his choice. There will be haters, like the pundits who are saying it is a disgrace. That is not my fault.”
Replying to Adil Rashid’s comments, Vaughan tweeted, “I am Stupid for wanting someone to prepare to play the No1 Test Team in the world by playing a 4-day game with the Red ball !!!!!! #WorldGoneNuts”.
I am Stupid for wanting someone to prepare to play the No1 Test Team in the world by playing a 4 day game with the Red ball !!!!!! #WorldGoneNuts https://t.co/uUORIr9vM9
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 27, 2018
Being called Stupid for wanting a player to be professional & play a Red ball 4 Game to prepare for the No1 Test Team in the World is an official career Highlight …. The Cricket world has officially gone NUTS …. #OnOn
— Michael Vaughan (@MichaelVaughan) July 27, 2018
When Rashid made the decision to concentrate on white-ball cricket this season, he had clarified that clear that it did not mean he had given up on the first class cricket.
It is the second time this season that an England player has come out and publicly criticised Vaughan. During the second Test against Pakistan at Headingley, Stuart Broad, who before the match Vaughan had called to be dropped, said: “I don’t think he’s got much insight into the England changing room. I don’t think the players talk to him about cricket or what’s going on in the changing room. It did anger me a little bit as I thought it was unfair and a bit targeted.”
