Rashid backed to deliver for Yorkshire

As leaders Yorkshire go into today's crunch game against second-placed Nottinghamshire at Headingley Carnegie, Moxon backed Rashid to play a key role in the Championship run-in and at the same time revive his England career.

Rashid, the First Division's leading wicket-taker with 49 at 27.87, has not played for England since last November.

But Moxon believes the talented 22-year-old can help spin Yorkshire to Championship glory and force his way into the England squad for this winter's Test series in Australia.

"Adil is bowling really well and that's good news not only in terms of our hopes of beating Notts and going on to win the title, but good for his England career," said Moxon, Yorkshire's director of professional cricket.

"He's had a really good couple of months and, if he maintains that form, there's no reason why he can't have a big say in the outcome of the Championship and also do himself a big favour on a personal level.

"Adil is bowling with a lot of confidence and that's probably the biggest thing with him.

"He's always been a confidence bowler and, when that side of his game is right, he's a very dangerous customer."

Yorkshire, who are one point ahead of Nottinghamshire but have played a game more, have had a tacit understanding with England this summer that Rashid needs to be playing as much county cricket as possible.

Following discussions between Moxon and the national hierarchy, England belatedly realised there was little sense in trawling Rashid around the country to carry drinks when he could be honing his skills in the county game.

"There hasn't been a time limit put on it in terms of Adil not playing international cricket," said Moxon.

"It's just better for him to have played more county cricket this year and we're now seeing the benefits of that.

"If the England selectors wanted to pick him for the Ashes, I wouldn't be worried about him playing because on current form he's the obvious second spinner.

"But what we've got to avoid is the situation we had before where he was sat on his backside for 12 months twiddling his thumbs."

Moxon is hoping for another star turn from his leg-spinner against a Nottinghamshire team running Yorkshire hard for the title.

Victory would significantly increase Yorkshire's hopes of winning their first silverware in any competition since 2002 while denting their opponents' ambitions.

"We've still got to play Notts twice and those two games will clearly be important," said Moxon.

"We need to try to win both matches if possible to give ourselves some welcome breathing space.

"If we can win this week, it would obviously be massive from our point of view.

"I know that if we play to our ability we can beat them, just as I know that if we fall below our standards that we'll be in trouble because they're a quality team."

Moxon believes his young side will hold their nerve during the season's closing weeks.

"The players are really up for it and there's a great deal of excitement in the camp," he added.

"We know we've got a chance of winning it (the Championship) and we just need to keep doing what we've been doing.

"We've got five tough games to go but we're in there fighting.

"We've just got to keep working hard and focus on the basics."

Yorkshire have Ajmal Shahzad available for today's match, but Tim Bresnan has retained his place in the England squad for Friday's second Test against Pakistan at Edgbaston. Moxon believes both players can join Rashid on the plane to Australia.

"Ajmal is coming back from injury but England clearly like him and he's impressed every time he's played," he said.

"Tim has also done well at international level and could also feature in the Ashes.

"They're different types of bowlers: Bressy, ideally, is a third seamer in Test cricket, whereas Ajmal is much more of an opening bowler. They've both got a big future at international level and there's no reason both can't play in the same England team."

Nottinghamshire pace bowler and former Yorkshire star Ryan Sidebottom faces a fitness test today after injuring his knee playing football before last week's Championship match against Somerset.

n The England and Wales Cricket Board hearing into Yorkshire off-spinner Azeem Rafiq's foul-mouthed Twitter rant against England Under-19 coach John Abrahams is set to take place tomorrow.

The player has been suspended by Yorkshire pending the outcome of the hearing.

England squad versus Pakistan: Strauss (captain), Cook, Trott, Pietersen, Collingwood, Morgan, Prior, Broad, Swann, Anderson, Finn, Bresnan.