Rashid learning from the best

Should exciting leg-spinning prospect Adil Rashid bowl England to more Ashes glory next summer, Australia can blame two of its own - spin guru Terry Jenner and his most famous protege Shane Warne.

Under the tutelage of Jenner since he was 15, Rashid, a 21-year-old of Pakistan heritage, has become one of the most exciting players in England.

Uncapped at Test level and with only six limited-overs games under his belt, Rashid is largely unknown to Australian audiences.

He had limited success against Australia while playing for England's second XI in July but recently has climbed up the charts with a bullet.

His past two first-class games have yielded unbeaten contributions of 157 and 117 and two five-wicket hauls.

Inevitably in this neck of the woods, such all-round talent invites comparisons to departed superstar Andrew Flintoff.

Rashid, whose father introduced him to leg-spin aged 10, won rave reviews for his performance at The Oval on Friday night when he backed up a tidy 0-37 from 10 overs with a whirlwind 31 off 23 balls.

He has all the leg-spinner's toys - the googly, top spinner and flipper - not to mention an ability to drift the ball into the pads of the right-hander before spinning it past the outside edge.

Rashid's last meeting with Jenner was two weeks ago in Yorkshire prior to the start of the current seven-match one-day series with Australia.

"I've been to see him twice in Australia to work on my bowling and he has been a big influence on my development," Rashid said.

"To bowl leg spin you have got to learn the basics. Alignment and head position, that is the key for bowling in a consistent area and getting a shape and spin."

"It is a friendship. I grew up with him and talking with him I learn about myself and the game. I talk to him about my development and my game."

He consulted Warne, his role model and the greatest leg-spinner the world has seen, two years ago when playing for Yorkshire against Hampshire in a county game.

"We were talking about how to set batsmen up, the different types of delivery and field placing," Rashid said.

Rashid has already turned heads in the Australian camp, particularly captain Michael Clarke, who although an excellent player of spin was tied down by the youngster.

"He's still very young and well keep taking note of him," said Australia's one-day specialist James Hopes.

"If they keep producing dry wickets then he'll be hard to play, but if we get him on a wicket that doesn't suit well find out about him."

Rashid, by his own admission, still has much improvement to go but one feels he will play a big part in England's defence of the Ashes in 2010.