Adil Rashid has put his ambitions for a Test return on hold and negotiated a new white-ball deal at Yorkshire after losing some of his appetite for the first-class game.

While a mainstay of England’s one-day team since the 2015 World Cup – no bowler has taken more than his 84 wickets during this time – the 29-year-old leg-spinner has been used only sparingly in Test cricket with all 10 of his caps coming overseas. Rashid returned 38 wickets at 42 runs apiece up to the end of the 4-0 defeat to India in late 2016 and England have since turned to Hampshire’s 20-year-old Mason Crane for both the recent Ashes campaign and next month’s Test tour to New Zealand.

Despite being a key part of the Yorkshire side that won back-to-back County Championships in 2014 and 2015, Rashid felt he would be “going through the motions” if he played first-class cricket this year and recently approached the club about fresh terms. The request was reluctantly accepted by Martyn Moxon, the director of cricket at Headingley, but will be reassessed at the end of the new one-year deal.

“I’ve made the decision to just concentrate on white ball, something which makes me very happy and gives me the best chance of improving my cricket,” said Rashid. “It’s not me saying I’m finished from red ball. It’s just this summer I’m going to concentrate on white ball and see where that takes me. England and Trevor Bayliss were happy with the decision I made and are backing me fully.”

Andrew Gale, the Yorkshire head coach, told the Guardian that losing Rashid is a blow to their title ambitions – “he is a two-in-one player and it leaves a hole” – but suspects that Twenty20 opportunities at home and abroad will likely see more players specialise in the future.

“It’s probably the way the game is going,” said Gale. “It was a surprise and we are disappointed, because we know how talented he is. But we respect his decision. And ultimately you want 11 guys who are prepared to run through a brick wall for you.”

Stokes may train on Saturday after reunion with team-mates

It will be a case of planes and automobiles for Ben Stokes as he finally meets up with his England team-mates on Friday in New Zealand.

While Stokes will arrive in the country at 3.20pm local time, his plane lands in Auckland, where New Zealand host Australia later that night. He will then be met by representatives from the ECB, including a security presence, who will escort him on the 114km drive to the team hotel in Hamilton. Any hopes of a quiet arrivals hall were scuppered after the all-rounder posted his travel details on Instagram with a photograph of his ticket.

There is a chance Stokes may train on Saturday with the Twenty20 squad, before their final Trans-Tasman Tri-Series group match against New Zealand on Sunday. That game could be a dead rubber in any case – England need New Zealand to beat Australia to keep their hopes alive.

Speaking on Wednesday in Wellington, Trevor Bayliss said the usual protocol after such a long-haul trip is to allow players a couple of days off. Nevertheless, an assessment will be made on merit after Stokes’s two-day trek. “We’d have to see how he is,” said the head coach. “Normally when we travel, we have a couple of days off before we get stuck into it so there are no injuries.”

Stokes is not expected to feature in the match on Sunday or the final on 21 February should England get there. He is also doubtful for the first ODI against New Zealand on 25 February. “It’s just up and in the air,” said Bayliss when pressed on the 26-year-old’s playing chances beyond this weekend. “We’ll have to wait and see how he is travelling, with the practice.”

On Tuesday Stokes indicated he would plead not guilty to affray charges when his case is brought in front of Bristol crown court on 12 March – a hearing he will not need to attend.