India vs England: Moeen Ali dropped, Rashid included in the series opener

Adil Rashid (C) (Photo: AFP)


Star English spinner Adil Rashid has been included in England’s playing XI for the opening Test match of the five-match series against India.

Earlier, Adil Rashid’s sudden recall to Test cricket created an uproar in the English cricket fraternity.

Adil Rashid had played his last Test match back in December 2016 against India in Chennai.

“Looking at the surface, we have decided we only want to go with one spinner, and that is going to be Adil,” English skipper Joe Root has said on the eve of the game.

“With the amount of right-handers in what we think is going to be India’s team, he gives us a very attacking option,” Root added.

Adil Rashid has been recalled in Test squad after his stellar campaign in the shortest format of the game.

The 30-year-old leggie picked six wickets in the recently concluded ODI series against India, including the prized scalp of rival skipper Virat Kohli. Rashid has played 10 Test matches so far and bagged 38 wickets at a modest average of 42.78.

England XI: Alastair Cook, Keaton Jennings, Joe Root (captain), Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow (wicket-keeper), Ben Stokes, Jos Buttler, Adil Rashid, Sam Curran, Stuart Broad, James Anderson.