ALL the talk is of Joe Root, Jonny Bairstow and Tim Bresnan with England, but what about Adil Rashid?

The 25-year-old has been in truly sparkling form with the bat all season and, now, his leg-spin has helped put Yorkshire right among the title contenders in the County Championship Division I.

If England aren’t watching, then they should be with two testing Ashes series ahead.

Rashid, of course, has had brief international recognition before, in 2009, but that was in the one-day game.

That involvement worked against him and many believe he should have been nurtured for the Test format rather than left to the ravages of T20 and 50-over cricket.

Rashid now looks a cricketer reborn and is revelling in a bid to bring Yorkshire a 31st Championship title and their first since 2001.

He has already scored three hundreds in the Championship this season – hitting an unbeaten 103 against Somerset at Taunton to follow up 110 not out against Warwickshire in Birmingham and a brilliant 180 against Somerset at Headingley.

The selectors will surely be keeping an eye on him again following 72 in the latest 10-wicket victory against Middlesex at Lord’s, which was completed by Friday lunchtime.

It was Rashid – brother of Drakes League duo Haroon and Amar – who did the bulk of the damage in the home second innings, when he took five for 78.

Following-on 215 behind, Middlesex were dismissed for 219 after losing their last six wickets in 10 overs on the final morning.

Gareth Berg, who top-scored with 54 in the first innings, made a defiant 38 before falling to Rashid, leaving Yorkshire needing five runs to secure their fourth win of the season.

Yorkshire coach, Jason Gillespie, had some sympathy for Middlesex, who lost at Lord’s in the Championship for the first time in two years.

“It’s tough for Middlesex because they play at the home of cricket and every team wants to play here,” he said.

“It’s always a challenge for them because teams lift their game and we were no different. Our boys have been excited all week – and we’re chuffed to beat a really strong team.”