Rashid in no hurry for England call-up

By Richard Sydenham

SOUTHAMPTON (Reuters) - Adil Rashid is one of English cricket's hottest prospects but there is more pressure on him than most because he has a rare quality for his country -- he bowls leg-spin.

Rashid, 20, is playing for the England Lions -- a team made up of test match prospects -- against the New Zealanders. The Yorkshire all-rounder echoed the guarded sentiments of those around him by downplaying an England call-up.

"It would be a dream come true but I have to perform for my county first," Rashid told Reuters in an interview. "If I look too far ahead things can go wrong.

"I'm a down-to-earth character and if somebody says I will be playing for England soon I won't think too much about it and will get on with my game."

There has been a dearth of quality leg-spinners globally though Australia had Shane Warne, India have Anil Kumble and Pakistan have Danish Kaneria. Not since 2000 have England been able to select a leg-spinner when they picked 21-year-old rookie Chris Schofield and Ian Salisbury.

Rashid, Bradford-born with Pakistani origin, could soon end the wait, though his mentors want to ensure he does not become 'the next Schofield'. The then Lancashire player was released by his county four years after his test debut.

"Everybody's dream is to play for England and in the Ashes," Rashid said. "But Yorkshire want to protect me and don't want to expose me too early.

"You see cricketers aged 19 or 20 on their debut and sometimes they don't do so well and can go down very quickly. They are trying to prevent that happening to me."