Geoffrey Boycott calls Adil Rashid a 'spoilt brat'

Selection decision sending the wrong message to young cricketers and downgrades county cricket, says Boycott...

The debate over Adil Rashid's Test selection continues to rage with former England batsman Geoffrey Boycott labelling the spinner a "spoilt brat".

Rashid's presence in the squad has divided opinion after the Yorkshire bowler decided to take time away from the red-ball game. However, impressive performances in limited-overs matches for his country have propelled Rashid back into the five-day picture.

He is likely to be a rare example of such a conundrum, with national selector Ed Smith stating that from 2019, players must play red-ball cricket to warrant Test selection.

Writing in the Daily Telegraph, Boycott said by picking Rashid, England are "selecting the unselectable".

"By picking Adil Rashid, they are selecting the unselectable: a player who will not play four-day Championship cricket for Yorkshire because his heart isn’t in it but he will play for England in Test Matches," said Boycott.

"The only reason the head selector Ed Smith selected him is because there is no one else, and the fact that there are no decent spinners in county cricket is a shameful indictment on all the 18 counties.

Boycott and Vaughan have both been heavily critical of Rashid' selection

"At the start of the season Yorkshire had the chance to say to Rashid, "you play all forms of cricket or you can leave."

"This is not setting the right example to our youngsters and we expect more loyalty, especially from a homegrown player. Sadly, Yorkshire didn’t have the balls to do that.

"They have never stood in his way wherever he played around the world and he repays them by showing he couldn’t give a toss about the club.

"Loyalty works two ways but it appears Adil wants to be free to play anywhere in the world there is a one-day tournament that pays him big bucks.

"It sends the wrong message to every youngster, specifically at Yorkshire, and downgrades county cricket.

"It makes him look like a spoilt brat. Not only has he put two fingers up to Yorkshire by not playing four-day cricket, Adil is now not available for Yorkshire’s Twenty20 matches. He still doesn’t get it that he won’t play for Yorkshire but will play for England and thinks Yorkshire should be thrilled for him."

Last week Rashid responded to Michael Vaughan's comments on the matter, saying: "There will be people out there who are not happy. There will be haters, like the pundits who are saying it is a disgrace. That is not my fault."

Boycott claims Rashid has reacted "like a spoilt child".

"Michael Vaughan criticised him, so he hit out like a spoilt child saying Michael is stupid and nobody listens to him. Trashing a great England captain and superb batsman doesn’t go down well with the cricketing public.

"Let me tell Adil that Vaughan will be remembered as one of the greatest England captains and an elegant, superb batsman. In 10 years nobody will remember Adil’s Test-match performances. He has played 10 Test matches, taken 38 wickets at an average of 42.78 runs. He has been expensive and not a match-winner.

"Someone close to him should tell him to keep his mouth shut and start bowling better."