Adil Rashid is an obvious selection, it was a brave call: Cook

Former England skipper Alastair Cook today dismissed the furore over Adil Rashid, calling it an "obvious selection" and said the selectors made a "brave call" in picking him for the first Test against India.

Rashid was selected for the first of five Tests against India despite quitting red-ball cricket ahead of the 2018 county season and having not played a first-class game since September.

The decision has led to widespread debate over the last five days with former skipper Michael Vaughan and Nasser Hussian criticising the selectors' decision.

"The way Adil has been playing and bowling for the one-dayers, it seemed quite an obvious selection. He has been bowling brilliantly but I know in a different format. In one sense, I feel a little bit sorry for Adil with all the political side of the selection, rather than looking at him," said Cook.

"He's gone away and worked really hard on his one-day skills and has been bowling brilliantly in the last two series. He's been selected to play for England, which is a huge honour, and all this other stuff has overtaken it.

"It's just because it's unusual it's never really happened this way before. I don't think it will happen very many times again.

"Obviously, Ed Smith (chief selector) says he needs to be playing red-ball cricket [to be selected in future] and I think that's right. But sometimes in exceptional circumstances, selection goes a different way than you would like and obviously Ed and the selectors have made a brave call."
"I think he'll be fine. Clearly he's going to be nervous because it's a bit of time away from the England team and with the circumstances. But I genuinely think he will cope and he's bowling really well."
"It's testament to their fitness and ability to soak up the demands on international cricket as a bowler. You never know and it is a big test for them. Just because Jimmy is 36 today, I do find it amazing those guys can do what they do so many times for England. Hopefully they can, but if they can't it will be an opportunity for someone else."