1 pick in the original hundred draft in 2019 Rashid Khan says his belief in his ability will allow him to overcome Trent Bridge's recent reputation as a bowler's graveyard, as he used Trent Rockets' attack in his opening ready to lead. Against the Southern Braves on Saturday.
Khan, who was recently confirmed as Afghanistan captain for the upcoming T20 World Cup, warmed up to his hundred stint with two Vitality Blast outings for Sussex last week - a potential rival on Saturday With, Jofra Archer - emerged from ten days in quarantine. His arrival from Lahore Qalandars' PSL campaign.
And on Saturday, he will take on the Southern Braves batting order featuring several in-form batsmen, including James Vince, who played two match-winning innings for Hampshire in a single day after his maiden ODI century against Pakistan. The double-header last week, and New Zealand's Devon Conway, who has made a remarkable start to his international career with strong form in the Blast as anchor for Somerset (missing Quinton de Kock for the opening games due to Brave South Africa). series in Ireland).
Rashid, however, seems unfazed by his status as the tournament's most sought-after signing, and not by the Trent Bridge pitch, which scored a total of 433 in Pakistan's thrilling victory in last week's first T20I, and where In the last five years, England have twice broken the record for most innings in ODI history - most recently in 2018 with their total of 481 for 6 against Australia.
Khan said, “As a spinner, if you have these things in your mind that the wicket is flat, the boundaries are less, then I think it will not help you. "What helps is that you bring your skills and your experience into play instead of thinking about things that are not within our control.
"As a bowler, you can't hit 75-80m boundaries on every ground. But still, if you bowl a bad ball, even if it's a 100m boundary, they're going to hit you for a six, you go. So it will definitely be a challenge. I will need consistency in my bowling, and it will be tested. But as long as I have a positive mindset for the game, I can perform.
"Whatever it is, as long as I'm hitting in the right areas, and backing up my skills and my talent, I think I can do well for the team. Your best delivery to anyone around the world." You also have the best delivery for the batsman. That's why it reads [on TV analysis] on the wicket, 'Good length'. As long as you're hitting that area, it gives you maximum correct results."
In a T20 career that has now spanned 267 matches, Khan's career economy rate of 6.28 is a testament to the effectiveness of his deceptively simple methods - a bustling stump-to-stump approach, fast pace through the air, and the line. of a natural arch and length, all backed by a wicked googly that is hardly distinguishable from the break of his leg.
And with all teams coming to grips with the possibilities and pitfalls of the Hundred's new playing conditions, especially the opportunity for a bowler to deliver two consecutive sets of five balls (and potentially 20 out of 25 all told) ) Rashid admitted that his ability to calm the batsmen in his own eyes makes him one of those players for whom changes could have been made.
"I am very excited to bowl ten balls in a row," he said. "It gives you ten straight wickets, and three hat-tricks. That's an advantage we have, but you can also hit for ten sixes, or give away 50 runs in just ten balls.
"It mostly depends on the circumstances and also the state of the game, but if a batsman is struggling against a bowler, of course, the opposition captain will want to keep those ten balls by that bowler to keep the pressure on.
"In this format, I think the more you try to put pressure on the batsman, the more time they give you wickets, rather than you trying to attack to take their wickets. As long as you bowl Putting pressure. Dot ball, which also gives you wickets."
Above all, though, after a year behind closed doors due to Covid-19, Khan is looking forward to playing his cricket in front of a crowded crowd once again. And, after witnessing the spectacle success, off-field glamor and excitement that accompanies the on-field action, of the IPL, he raves about the dazzle surrounding the Hundred and its ability to attract new audiences to English cricket. is excited.
"If you want a successful competition, of course, it's 60-70% of the fans that make it a success," he said. "If you look at the last year and a half, we don't have fans in the stadium, it doesn't look like the same game. The fans make it more vivid and enjoyable, and if they give their love to this form of the game as well, It will be on top of the world. As players, we can only give 100% to the center, and bring our skills into play.
"To me, it looks like a huge competition for everyone around the world, not just in England," he said. "It will definitely attract a lot of attention and also inspire a lot of youngsters, and that is the main reason behind this game, to inspire the youth and bring their mindset towards this sport."
Khan, of course, is no stranger to such role-model status, becoming one of Afghanistan's most celebrated players since making his international debut in 2015. And having carried that burden of hope into his stride, he is comfortable going back to his prime. Hundred.
"It was a huge, proud moment for me and my country, to be someone from Afghanistan and to be the first choice in this competition," he said. "I'm very lucky, and I think what I've done in the last five-and-a-half years has become possible.
"I am eager to prove it. I just have to keep it simple for myself, bring my skills to the game, enjoy the game, keep smiling and keep doing well for the team."