Adil Rashid inflicts mortal wounds on India and can look to Sri Lanka


Rashid had had a fruitless series until he dismissed both centurions to trigger England’s final canter to Test victory

Early on this final day, when it looked as if the fifth Test would drift rather than sprint towards its likely outcome, the idea of filing a column with some series awards had begun to take shape. Adil Rashid was up for at least one. Perhaps Rashid might get Best Walking Around for his “invisible” game at Lord’s, where he walked close to 10 miles from midwicket to deep fine-leg without taking a catch, bowling a ball or batting. He might even have been an outside shot for the coveted Strangest Selection, given his recurrent inactivity and the rage generated in Yorkshire by the acceptance of an England Test call.

That changed here at 4.20pm, with India on 325 for five, both batsmen past their hundreds, and the day just starting to get away from England. When bowling, Rashid had been running wide of the crease all afternoon, occasionally ending up almost outside the tramlines from around the wicket.

Related: Jimmy Anderson’s record wicket ensures England beat India in fifth Test

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