Patience in Rashid pays off

There have been times over the past few years when Yorkshire must have been close to losing patience with Adil Rashid and his failure to impose his talent consistently on first-class cricket. Five years after making his Championship debut, the extra responsibility he has accepted appears to have transformed his cricket.

Dropped last summer after struggling with bat and ball and unsettled about his future with Yorkshire, Rashid has been a revelation so far this season after putting in extra training during the winter, which prompted a promotion to No. 6 in the order. He has responded by hitting a career-best 180 against Somerset last week and hit an unbeaten 68 here to help Yorkshire take control against Warwickshire.

Having dismissed Warwickshire, the county champions, for 128 on the opening day, Rashid's wristy strokeplay helped them establish a 190-run advantage by the close after he shared a 75-run seventh wicket stand with Tim Bresnan, who arrived at Edgbaston at lunch after being released from England duty at the opening Test at Lord's.

"The way he's gone about his training since Christmas has been fantastic - he's really knuckled down," Andrew Gale, Yorkshire's captain, enthused. "We've always known the talent he's got. When you look at some of the shots he plays, he's definitely one of the more talented batsmen in our team, but it's about how many runs and wickets you get and we're starting to reap the rewards of his training.

"The added responsibility seems to have done wonders for him, batting number six. He's got a lot more consistency in his life, in his training. It's no surprise to us that he's started the season the way he has."

Rashid's confident display, which included eight fours, built on a solid batting performance throughout the day. Resuming on 11 without loss, they were aided by sunshine rather than the swing-friendly conditions that aided their attack on the opening day.

Yorkshire's progress was also boosted by three dropped catches, with Gale being dropped at point by Chris Woakes off Boyd Rankin, and then caught at long leg, only to carry the ball over the boundary before he could flick it back into play. Adam Lyth also benefitted from Warwickshire's largesse when he was missed at backward point.

None of the three misses were costly in terms of runs, but it helped Yorkshire build a momentum that Warwickshire found difficult to break despite a disciplined bowling display. Yorkshire's day was given a flourish by Gary Ballance, watched by Ashley Giles, England's one-day coach, hitting an eye-catching 52.

Ballance became one of three victims for Jeetan Patel, who exploited turn from the City End that suggests Rashid's leg-spin may also have a major impact on the future outcome of the game as Yorkshire attempt to build on their promising start to life in division one.