Rashid out to underline his white-ball quality after struggles on the Test arena

"I'm still a long way off becoming that world-beater in Test cricket," admitted Rashid, who was recalled to the side last summer despite being in the middle of a red-ball hiatus with Yorkshire.

"You have the odd performance here and there but to back it up consistently has so far been a bit of a challenge.

"The last game was tough as a spinner but that's Test cricket, you're bound to be tested. Obviously you want to play but, if you don't play and you can go home and support your family, that was very good from England to give me that chance and it was greatly appreciated.

"Thankfully everything went okay (with the birth). It was nice to go back for 10 days or so now but now I'm back and ready to go."

With attention moving to limited-overs cricket for the next five months – a period the England and Wales Cricket Board desperately hope will end with a famous tournament win on home soil – Rashid instantly goes from peripheral player to leading man.

Since the last World Cup in 2015 Rashid has taken 116 one-day international wickets – second only to Afghanistan's Rashid Khan and 40 more than the nearest Englishman, Liam Plunkett.

He is the point of difference in Eoin Morgan's arsenal and the man most likely to break a partnership or spark a collapse.

It is a role he has gradually come to terms with.

"The preparation now is white-ball cricket so I focus on that, my strengths, what I'm looking to work on leading up to the World Cup and beyond," he said.

"I get in the right mindset, look to work on my tricks and work on my deliveries so I can give it my best shot. My strength is coming on and bowling my variations. I look to adjust what I'm bowling depending on the conditions but first and foremost, as a spinner, you have to stick to your own strengths. It's the same as it's been for the last three or four years, nothing changes."

Rashid's ability to tune into his own skills and not those of the man 22 yards away is sure to be tested if he comes up against Chris Gayle in the next couple of weeks.

The 39-year-old self-styled 'Universe Boss' has announced he will retire after the World Cup and will be eager to leave his mark on bowlers during his lap of honour.

"He's only human. We're all human and we all make mistakes," said Rashid.

"There are obviously some concerns but you have to believe in yourself, be confident that you can get him out. It only takes one ball for him to make a mistake and get out. It's that kind of mindset that we need.

"If he gets hold of me, he gets hold of me. As a spinner, you've got to have a big heart and come back and get him out."

England's challenges do not end after the World Cup, with a home Ashes series following close behind, but Rashid's involvement in that contest is less assured.

"The summer is a long way ahead. I don't look too far," he said.

"If I'm not selected by England, we'll communicate with Yorkshire and come to an agreement over what is best for the team and myself."

ga('create', 'UA-72310761-1', 'auto', {'name': 'pacontentapi'});
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'referrer', location.origin);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension1', 'By Rory Dollard, Press Association Cricket Correspondent, Bridgetown');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension2', '35719240-cd12-41b5-aaa1-8e0267c6a18c');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension3', 'paservice:sport,paservice:sport:uk,paservice:sport:world');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension6', 'story');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension7', 'composite');
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension8', null);
ga('pacontentapi.set', 'dimension9', 'sport:cricket');
ga('pacontentapi.send', 'pageview', { 'location': location.href, 'page': (location.pathname + location.search + location.hash), 'title': 'Rashid out to underline his white-ball quality after struggles on the Test arena'});