India vs England 2018: Adil Rashid is a spoilt child, says Geoffrey Boycott

Former England and Yorkshire batsman Geoffrey Boycott believes Adil Rashid should have never been recalled in the England squad for the first Test against India.

The selection of Adil Rashid for the first Test against India has proved to be a massively polarising affair. From the day England ‘s selection committee included the legspinner’s name in their 13-man squad for the opening Test of the five-match series, a host of former cricketers have let their displeasure known in no uncertain terms.

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Add former England and Yorkshire batsman Geofrey Boycott to the list of the critics of the controversial selection. He believes Rashid should have never been recalled in the first place, calling him ‘unselectable’ and terming him a ‘spoilt child’.

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In his column for telegraph.co.uk, Boycott did not mince words, saying it was ‘absurd’ that Rashid refused to represent his county Yorkshire in four-day cricket but now will play for England in Test cricket. “He (Rashid) should never have been handed a Test recall. In two years England have gone around in a circle. By picking Rashid, they are selecting the unselectable: a player who will not play four-day Championship cricket for Yorkshire because his heart is not in it, but he will play for England in Test matches. Absurd? Yes,” he wrote.

Boycott also came out in full support of former England captain and fellow Yorkshireman Michael Vaughan who had thrashed the decision, calling it ‘ridiculous’. The 30-year-old Rashid, who has appeared in 10 Tests for England with 38 wickets to his name, hit back calling Vaughan’s comments as ‘stupid’ and ‘do not matter’ in an interview to BBC Sport.

“Michael Vaughan criticised him, so he hit out like a spoilt child saying Michael is stupid and nobody listens to him. 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,” Boycott wrote.

However, current England players including the likes of captain Joe Root, Stuart Broad and Jonny Bairstow had defended their team-mate. The first Test between India and England starts from August 1 at Edgbaston.