ADIL Rashid revealed he was as surprised as anyone when the call came to join England’s World Twenty20 squad as a late replacement for Andrew Flintoff.

The 21-year-old leg-spinner received the news of his inclusion in a fourth full international squad last Wednesday, despite not even playing for Yorkshire in this season’s domestic 20-over competition.

Martyn Moxon threw him into action against Lancashire last Friday, and he returned 1-25 from four overs.

“It was a big surprise, definitely, because I haven’t been playing much Twenty20,”

said Rashid, who is in contention to play for England in this evening’s warm-up against Scotland at the Oval.

“I was delighted to be selected for the Twenty20. I wasn’t expecting a call up.”

Rashid will seek advice from England’s more experienced players, most likely fellow spinner Graeme Swann, about how to combat the dangers posed by the world’s most explosive hitters.

But, despite the fact that he has only played nine short format games in his fledgling career, he knows what it takes to outfox Afridi, Symonds and Tendulkar et al.

“Variation is a big thing in Twenty20,” he said. “You have to vary your pace, use your googly and slider, and you have to be clever with the field placing.”

Rashid’s nine games have yielded eight wickets, including a best of 4-24 against Notts at Trent Bridge last summer.

“Friday was my first game, and it felt quite good. Hopefully I can take that with me,”

he continued. “I have been working hard in the nets for the last couple of weeks, the ball has been coming out nice.”

He toured India with the Test squad before Christmas, then the West Indies with the Test and one-day squads from January through to April.

And despite not making his international debut, he still feels that the trips were worthwhile, and will stand him in good stead for the next month of trying to curb the crash, bang, wallop.

He added: “I learned a lot, I picked up some stuff from the batsmen and the bowlers.

I was also working with all the coaches. You learn quite a bit when you are away.”

Rashid’s Yorkshire colleague, the former England captain, Michael Vaughan said: “Spin is a big player in Twenty20 cricket, and it is a good way to go in (to international cricket). I think Adil will do well.”

Yorkshire will be looking for their second Twenty20 Cup North Division win in the space of three days when Durham visit Headingley tonight (5.30pm).