Rashid in for first Test

Adil returns to five-day squad after impressive performance against India and Australia in ODIs

In-form leg-spinner Adil Rashid was on Thursday recalled to the 13-man England squad for the opening Test against India despite his stated intent of concentrating on white ball cricket this February.

Essex seamer Jamie Porter also earned his maiden call-up for his consistent performances for the county and England Lions (A) over the past few seasons. He played a key role in Essex's County triumph in 2017 and was awarded with the 'Player of the Year' trophy.

However Rashid's much publicised return, having last played a Test match in December 2016 against India (at Chennai), happened due to his recent exploits in ODIs where he got 20 wickets against Australia and India at an average of 23.95.

If selected, Rashid, who signed a white-ball only deal with Yorkshire in February, will play his first Test in England having earned his previous 10 away from home.

"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," national selector Ed Smith said in a press release.

"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," Smith added.

That Rashid's selection is a topic of debate became evident by the statement of Yorkshire CEO Mark Arthur.

"We are very surprised that England have called Adil up after not playing red ball cricket this season. Neither has he expressed a desire to do so. I hope that England know what they're doing to Adil, and the county game."

Worcestershire's Moeen Ali also returned to the squad for the first time since the tour of New Zealand.

However Warwickshire's Chris Woakes has not been picked as he is yet to recover from his recent thigh and knee injury.

"The selection panel felt that Chris Woakes needed a little more time to regain full form. We are keen to avoid rushing him back from injury too soon. Chris will combine playing for Warwickshire in T20s alongside building up red ball fitness and workload with the England coaches."

Squad: Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alastair Cook, Sam Curran, Keaton Jennings, Dawid Malan, Jamie Porter, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes.

‘It was tough decision’

Having decided to quit red-ball cricket for good, leg-spinner Adil Rashid admitted that it was a "tough decision" to make himself available for England in Tests in what can be termed as a "surprise" recall to the 13-man squad for the five-Test series against India, starting  August 1.

"It was definitely a tough decision and obviously I was kind of surprised because to get back in the Test side usually people have to go back to your county and perform to be considered," he told Sky Sports News.

"After the ODIs there was a discussion that me and Ed (selector Ed Smith) had, just regarding - you know - how you feel about playing, or being part of the squad, this summer against India.

"So obviously I had to think about it, considering I hadn't played red-ball game for a little while; but this opportunity I couldn't buy at it - I had to think about it and make a decision. I said 'I'll make myself available' and if you guys want to select me in the squad then I'll come and try my best."

Rashid, who signed a white-ball only deal with Yorkshire in February, said his time away from Test cricket won't put him under pressure.

"My role, hopefully, going into the team would be as it was for the ODIs and T20s - as how Morgs (Eoin Morgan) uses me. It will be exactly the same but with a red ball," he said.

"It will be to come in and try to take wickets, create chances - that'll be your job because if you do play two spinners, the other spinner can maybe look to keep it under twos or threes and my job will be to create the chances and hopefully get wickets."

Rashid said he will take a call on his future in Yorkshire after discussing with teh stakeholders.

"Going back to Yorkshire that's something we need to sit down and discuss about the future. But for now obviously Yorkshire have got the news and from there Yorkshire, England and myself are dealing with the situation as it is," said Rashid, whose contract with Yorkshire is up at the end of this season.

"Moving forward, I know that if I want to be available for Test cricket, I need to be playing red-ball cricket. When that time comes I'm sure we'll sit down and make a decision. If the opportunity is there, then I'll try my best to play four-day cricket as well.