'Risk-spin, not safe spin' - Adil Rashid urges youngsters to keep 'difficult' art of leg-spin alive | Exclusive

England leg-spinner Adil Rashid has provided insight into why the craft of leg-spin remains the rarest and most demanding in modern cricket, urging youngsters to take it up more often and not back off due to the challenges that come with it. Rashid also opened up on the dwindling number of wrist-spinners in world cricket, labelling it as one of the most difficult yet rewarding skills in the sport.

Rashid, one of England’s most celebrated match-winners, believes that young bowlers are becoming increasingly inclined towards safer options like off-spin or left-arm orthodox since they want instant results, something that leg-spin, as a variety of bowling, does not offer. He, however, reckoned that leg-spinners possess the ability to become genuine match-winners when dealt with patience and encouragement.

“I think leg spin is probably one of the most difficult things to bowl in cricket. I think the easiest option is to bowl finger-spin. But I think leg-spinners can always be match-winners,” Rashid said at the launch of Mr Cricket UAE in Dubai. “I think, around the world, there are not many leg-spinners coming through, maybe because they want to be a bit more on the safer side. They prefer bowling off spin, left-arm spin, because it's a bit easier.”

The 37-year-old also stressed the importance of encouraging up-and-coming cricketers to persist with leg-spin from an early age, as that, as per him, is the only method to ensure their preparedness to perform at the highest level with the said bowling form.

“From a young age, they need to be encouraged to bowl leg spin. Whether you bowl it quick or slow, I think it's [about] making sure that they are encouraged to do so, so that when they actually do get in a position when they play professional cricket, they are ready.

Rashid highlighted that the art of leg-spin must be mastered at a young age; however, he acknowledged that various setbacks often demotivate young wrist-spinners, which is why encouraging them to persevere becomes all the more critical during the developmental phase.

“From a young age, when they are bowling, they get discouraged very quickly because things don't go your way. So, from my side, it would be a thing of making sure, that they are encouraged to bowl; be mentally strong to know they are right.

“[While bowling] leg spin, you are going to have your ups and downs, nothing ever going to go sailing. You are going to have times where things do get tough mentally.” He also pointed to physical growth as another hurdle. “When you start growing, when you're 12, 13, 14, your body grows as well. You're going to have difficulty in terms of your action. So, there are a lot of variables. Maybe that's why there are not as many [leg-spinners] coming through.”

While Rashid admitted that there are not as many leg-spinners being produced in the world of cricket, he revealed that England’s cricketing edifice remains committed to producing young wrist-spinners.

“I know where I'm from in England, our academies, myself and more, we've got a lot of leg spinners from a young age – age of 11, 12, who are bowling leg spin. But to make it at the top, it is very difficult.”

He believes passion, dedication, long-term vision and daring to dream are essential to succeed when pursuing leg-spin.

“They have got to make sure they have that passion. You have got to have that vision, you have that dream.”

Rashid further highlighted that he has always found leg-spin more fun than other varieties of spin bowling.

“With leg spin, what I find as well, it is a lot of fun. As opposed to bowling left-arm spin or off-spin, I think leg spin is a lot of fun. Yes, things cannot go your way [always], but that can happen with anybody.”

Rashid also touched upon leg-spinners’ ability to deceive batters, reckoning that no other form of bowling makes batters look sillier than leg-spin.

“When you do get it right [with leg-spin], you have that fun: you can make people [batters] look a bit silly. With off-spin, left-arm spin, people know [what the ball will do]. But sometimes when you have that variation as a leg spinner, you can make them [batters] look silly.”

While he accepted that the bowling form is becoming a dying art, he expressed hope that the existing flagbearers of the craft, such as Rashid Khan and himself, would be able to inspire confidence in the young generation.

“So, I think at times, it [leg-spin] is dying down. But hopefully, like in England, all over the world, they can see the likes of people who are playing, Rashid Khan, myself, all the other leg spinners around the world. And hopefully they can take something from that… as opposed to being a bit safer.”

“Leg spin, it's called wrist-spin, but at times it is just called risk-spin, because you take risks, that's how you get the reward. From my side, I would encourage youngsters and people who want to build leg spin to fight through it. And hopefully if you go through it, you can achieve a lot,” he concluded.