Tuesday 19 January 2016 11:56, UK
England coach Trevor Bayliss says Adil Rashid's spell in the Big Bash League could not have gone any better.
The Yorkshire leg-spinner was expected to travel with England for their Test tour of South Africa, but with pace bowling always likely to dominate that series, Bayliss helped broker a deal which saw Rashid link up with county coach Jason Gillespie at Adelaide Strikers.
The move has been a roaring success, with Rashid finishing the BBL group stage as the tournament's top wicket-taker, claiming 15 at an average of 13.20.
Rashid is scheduled to return to the England fold for the limited-overs series against The Proteas as Bayliss prepares his players for the World Twenty20 in March.
"It couldn't have worked out any better could it?" said Bayliss.
"We thought coming to South Africa that the likelihood of playing two spinners was probably not great, so Rash would just be just running drinks.
"But there's been a bit of talk about IPLs and Big Bashes, and trying to get our guys a bit more worldly, experienced.
"It was an opportunity that came up, so we took it and it's fantastic news not just for Rash but I think the England game.
"With him and David Willey doing well in that competition, and Michael Lumb, hopefully more of those teams will look at the English game for even more players to go out there and play."
Although his stint in Adelaide has boosted Rashid's standing in the game, Bayliss is keen not to label him as a limited-overs specialist.
He played three Tests against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates before Christmas and, despite a mixed series, the 27-year-old is still considered a three-format option.
"It's more of a long-term thing with him, he's still young (for a spinner)," said Bayliss. "He could have a 10-year international career and this is just the very beginnings.
"I suppose it's about trying to fast-track him a little. He's certainly bowled well for us in the white-ball games but I think he's got the opportunity to bowl well in Test cricket as well."
