England have repeatedly insisted the decision owed largely to the conditions in Pakistan, and there will be far more bounce on offer throughout their tour to Australia – not least at Perth’s Optus Stadium, where the three-match ODI series begins on Friday.
“It’s all conditions dependent, really,” Brook, England’s captain, told the BBC when asked about Rashid’s role. “Everybody knows how good Rash is. He’s a magician with the ball. He can tear through sides, and the skill that he possesses is unbelievable. It’s awesome to have him in and around the squad.
“But Liam Dawson did an exceptional job in Pakistan, and he did the role very well. He had a lot of clarity at the top of his mark, he knew exactly what he needed to do, and he performed well.”
Brook added that England have spoken extensively during their preparation for this series about the need to “control” the middle overs, having struggled to take wickets in overs 11-40 during the tri-series.
“If you look at the best teams in the world, that’s the key area they’re dominating at the minute,” he said. “That’s something that we’ve spoken about a lot over the last week or so. We want to try to control those middle overs with bat and ball a little bit better than what we have. That could be being boring a little period of time, or deciding to accelerate at some points.
“We’ve just got to read and adapt to those conditions and the situations a little bit better than what we have done. We’re still a work in progress, as every team always is, but we’re looking forward to trying to put that into practice this week.”
Brook’s comments came as Buttler, his predecessor as white-ball captain, suggested that England are unlikely to win next year’s World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia unless Rashid – who will be 39 at the start of the tournament – is in form.
“I think for England to win the World Cup, he has to be there and bowling at his best,” Buttler said on his For the Love of Cricket podcast. “Numerous times, I’ve said how Adil’s the most important player that I’ve played with in those white-ball teams.
“I know time doesn’t stand still for anyone, and everyone at some point is going to have a drop-off and curve [downwards]. Adil’s an older player now, and has been so good for so long, and he won’t be at that level forever.
“But I think for us as a team to win that World Cup, Adil Rashid has to be there and be near his best. He’s that important. Those middle overs, finding ways to take wickets, that’s what he’s done for over 150-odd games [165] and how important he has been… No slight on anybody else, there isn’t another Adil Rashid.”
