Rashid the Test match spectator

London – Adil Rashid on Sunday became just the 14th player and first Englishman in 13 years to complete a Test match without bowling, batting, taking a catch, or effecting a run out.

Rashid, who made £12 500 (R226 000) for his walk-on role, was not called upon to weave his leg-spin magic in England’s innings and 159run win over India in the second Test at the Lord’s cricket ground.

With the overcast conditions in both of India’s innings ideal for swing bowling, Rashid was almost as much of a spectator as any member of the crowd at “The Home of Cricket” as the tourists were dismissed for 107 and 130, with James Anderson, England’s all-time leading Test wicket-taker, returning match figures of nine for 43.

And when England batted, Rashid was still waiting as next man in when skipper Joe Root declared the home side’s lone innings on 396/7.

With Rashid not a member of England’s slip cordon, chances were unlikely to come his way either during his 12th Test.

His “achievement” was far from unique in the 141year history of Test cricket, with 13 previous instances of players having equally quiet games.

The last time it happened to an England cricketer was when off-spinner Gareth Batty was not called upon in an innings and 261-run hammering of Bangladesh at Lord’s in 2005.