Adil Rashid named as England announce first test squad for Ashes 2015

Yorkshire all-rounder and leg-spinner Adil Rashid has been named in the 13-man England squad to face Australia in the first of five Ashes tests, which takes place from 9-13 July in Cardiff. The hosts are 3/1 shots with Coral to win the series opener.

Rashid, 27, impressed during the recent One Day International (ODI) series against the Aussies’ neighbours New Zealand, taking eight wickets.

New England coach Trevor Bayliss, a native Australian, previous selected a 14-man training party that went out to Spain. This did not include Rashid, but fellow uncapped player Mark Footitt went to that and has missed out on being chosen along with another fast bowler Liam Plunkett.

England squad 1st #Ashes Test: Cook Ali Anderson Ballance Bell Broad Buttler Finn Lyth Rashid Root Stokes Wood pic.twitter.com/a6FyMTkXyZ

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 1, 2015

National selector James Whitaker said: “There are no huge surprises in the squad. Adil Rashid’s inclusion provides [captain] Alastair Cook and Trevor with plenty of bowling options, and the surface at Cardiff will dictate who makes the final XI.

“Within the squad there are players who have plenty of experience of Ashes cricket and that knowledge will I’m sure be useful for the players who are yet to experience a home Ashes series.

“There has been some very good cricket played so far this summer and we are aware that we will need to build on that over the next seven weeks if we are to win back the Ashes.