Australians warned to beware of Rashid's spinning talent

Sydney, June 30 (ANI): Australians have been warned of a rare talent, an exciting young leg spinner on the verge of Test selection. The tourists are to be introduced to Adil Rashid in their final tour game at Worcester on Wednesday.

Rashid, 21, is the third spinner in England's 16-man Ashes squad, behind Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar.

He is a graduate of the England and Wales Cricket Board's elite wrist-spinning program founded by Australian spin mentor Terry Jenner a decade ago.

Jenner has worked with Rashid since he was 13, and believes the Australians will encounter a rare talent when they play the England Lions in the four-day game that precedes the first Test, The Sydney Morning Herald reports.

"At the age of 13 he got all 10 wickets in a second XI game of league cricket, against seniors.

He's got an amazingly talented wrist and he can bowl most of the variations and he's got a lot of courage. When blokes give him a bit of tap he still comes back for more," Jenner said.

Rashid is more likely to feature in the 2010-11 Ashes in Australia than the impending series, he is a stark reminder of Australia's failure to nurture a legacy for the greatest leg spinner of them all, Shane Warne.

"In a country where they say leg spin doesn't work, five kids out of this program have gone on and played first-class cricket - that suggests to me that we could do with a program in Australia," said Jenner.

Rashid learnt his trade in Bradford. His father, Abdul, converted the basement of the family home into indoor nets as a way of keeping his three sons out of trouble.

He debuted for England at the Twenty20 world championships, and can hold a spot in most sides as a batsman.

The bright young leg spinner will be desperate to make an impression against a full-strength Australian team in the shadows of Worcester Cathedral. (ANI)