Speaking after the 141-run win at Edgbaston that puts England 2-1 up going into the final Test of the summer, Bayliss admitted he was “very” tempted to give the 28-year-old Rashid a game, adding: “I think we saw last year, the Oval wicket had a bit in it for everyone. Nathan Lyon bowled very well there, got some spin and bounce out of the wicket”, said Bayliss.
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Bayliss has long spoken about his desire to utilise two spinners in the longest form but during his 12 months in charge has only done so during the series defeat to Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates late previous year, when conditions made it a given and Moeen Ali played as an opening batsman to allow the extra bowler.
Upon his exclusion in the playing eleven for the Edgbason Test, the Yorkshireman registered match figures of 7 for 61 in the County Championship win over Warwickshire, declaring his match-readiness to the think-tank.
Reflecting on his latest Test fifty, Hales said: “I’m satisfied but disappointed not to go on the morning after”. The fourth Test starts on Thursday. At some stage he will get an opportunity.
“Rashid’s been a chance for the last two or three Tests that we’ve played”. I’ve thought Rashid’s been a chance for the last two or three Tests that we’ve played.
Rashid, who played three Tests against Pakistan in the UAE a year ago, has been part of the squad since the Old Trafford Test and Bayliss said he had come close to playing in the last two matches before England opted to retain the balance of four quicks and Moeen Ali as the spinner.
If that does not come at The Oval, where England would have to either leave out an in-form seamer or a specialist middle-order batsman to accommodate him, it will on this winter’s sub-continent tours – where Bayliss will not be averse to the possibility of playing three spinners.
“The spell just after lunch that Moeen and [Stuart] Broad put together in partnership was reassuring and quite simply the difference was his discipline of length”, said the coach.
His brilliant display of reverse swing ignited England’s famous victory and took him back to the top of the world bowling rankings. I thought we were very good (at Edgbaston).
‘I’d be delighted if the strops didn’t happen, ‘ said Anderson on Tuesday.
“It shows what sort of character we’ve got in the team as well”.
“I spoke pretty frankly about the Old Trafford Test match”.
Anderson had to be taken out of the attack towards the end of Pakistan’s first innings, for the second time this year, for running on the pitch.
Anderson escaped any punishment from match referee Richie Richardson, the former West Indies captain, and Bayliss was happy with the way Anderson dealt with the fall-out.
“Then we bowled brilliantly too”.
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“I certainly think off the field, we have made a lot of friends”, the South African added.
