Injury blow for Rafiq is chance for Rashid to stake claim

Rashid is poised to make his 100th first-class appearance against Durham at Chester-le-Street on Wednesday after Rafiq was ruled out for six weeks with an injury to his right knee.

Yorkshire sent Rafiq for a scan on Friday after he complained of soreness following the club’s opening two games of the season.

The results have revealed that the 22-year-old faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines, handing Rashid a probable recall.

Yorkshire’s physiotherapist Scot McAllister said last night: “Azeem has sustained an injury to his knee picked up in the recent matches against Sussex and Lancashire.

“He was feeling a little bit uncomfortable so we felt the best thing was for him to have a scan.

“It has revealed he must now rest for six weeks with a view to returning to cricket in late May/early June.

“He will be monitored on a day-to-day basis by the Yorkshire medical team.”

The wheel is therefore set to turn full circle for Rashid just a fortnight after the publication of a national newspaper article in which he criticised the club and captain Andrew Gale.

Rashid’s comments, which were actually made back in January but only published on the eve of the season, related to various cricketing frustrations.

However, Yorkshire were quick to point out that those frustrations have long been resolved and stressed that the 25-year-old is fully committed to the cause.

There was certainly no sign of any lingering problem when Rashid played in last week’s three-day friendly against Lancashire at Headingley, scoring a splendid 103 and impressing with the ball, a performance that must have put him in contention for a starting place at Durham in any case.

Rashid, Rafiq and their Yorkshire team-mates, along with the great and good of Yorkshire cricket past and present, were at Headingley yesterday for a special lunch to celebrate the club’s 150th anniversary.

Some 400 guests, including Yorkshire president Geoffrey Boycott and his former county team-mates Brian Close, Raymond Illingworth, John Hampshire and Philip Sharpe, were among those who packed out the East Stand Long Room.

The event, which was splendidly organised by Yorkshire’s Simon Pixsley and Sarah Thorpe, along with Boycott’s wife Rachael and the YCCC staff as a whole, featured guest speakers John Barclay and the brilliant impressionist Kevin Connelly.

Connelly spent most of his act taking the mickey out of Boycott, who took the light-hearted ribbing in good-natured fashion, while Barclay recalled with especial fondness how he once dismissed Boycott.

As befitted a former captain of Sussex, Barclay also delighted in reminding guests that Yorkshire had opened the current campaign with an innings defeat to Sussex in the Championship at Headingley.

When Yorkshire first team coach Jason Gillespie was interviewed on stage by master of ceremonies Dave Callaghan, the BBC Radio Leeds cricket correspondent, Gillespie said the club had drawn a line under that disappointing result.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t perform as well as we would have liked (against Sussex), but the trip to Durham gives us the opportunity to play some really good cricket,” commented Gillespie.

“One game doesn’t make a season, and we’re all really looking forward to Wednesday.”

Callaghan went on to enquire: “What about the Ashes, Jason. Are your lads going to test us again this year?”

There was a theatrical pause before Gillespie quipped: “Probably not”, prompting much laughter around the room.

The former Australia fast bowler added: “No, look, I think Australia are still unsure as to who their best batsmen are.

“I’m convinced that Australia’s bowling is up to the task, but I just feel that England’s batting is going to handle the Australian bowling better than the Australian batsmen are going to handle England’s attack, so that’s where I think it’s going to be won or lost.

“I think England, rightly, deserve to start favourites.”

Asked to reflect on what Yorkshire County Cricket Club means to Australians, Gillespie said: “It’s a club that all Australians know, plain and simple.

“Talk county cricket, talk cricket around the world, and Yorkshire is right up there, very prominent.

“A lot of players in Australia talk about going over to England and having the opportunity to play county cricket, and Yorkshire’s probably the first club they think about.

“In county cricket, there’s probably three or four clubs that are big and Yorkshire’s the biggest; it’s held in incredibly high regard.”

Andrew Gale spoke of his great pride at leading Yorkshire in such a momentous year, while Boycott was on typically good form.

In his opening address, the president quipped: “Thank you all for coming today, particularly the players. I’m glad that they’re not playing, because we don’t want them playing like they did last week.”

Later, Boycott explained a splendid gesture in which white roses were placed on each of the tables for guests to take home.

Boycott said this mirrored the gesture made many years before at the retirement dinner of Lord Hawke, whose contribution to Yorkshire cricket was also highlighted during a 150th anniversary video presentation narrated by current Yorkshire pace bowler Moin Ashraf.

There were presentations to legendary umpire Dickie Bird, following his 80th birthday last Friday, and Anthony McGrath, who recently retired from first-class cricket after a distinguished career.

Colin Graves, the Yorkshire executive chairman, also led deserved applause for the eminent Yorkshire cricket journalist David Warner following his appointment last week as president of the Cricket Writers’ Club in succession to the late Christopher Martin-Jenkins.

Yorkshire squad versus Durham (from): Lyth, Root, Jaques, Gale (captain), Bairstow, Ballance, Rashid, Bresnan, Plunkett, Sidebottom, Patterson, Brooks.