Cricket: Aussie spin guru helping Rashid

Australian leg-spin guru Terry Jenner has been helping Adil Rashid as the rising England cricket star tries to model his career on idol Shane Warne.

Rashid, 21, bowled impressively for no reward, conceding just 37 runs off his 10 overs as Australia narrowly won their first of seven one-day internationals on Saturday at the Oval.

In just his second one-day international after making his debut against Ireland last month, he remained unbeaten on 31 off 23 balls as England lost by just four runs.

He credited Jenner with helping his development as a bowler after spending two stints at his spin academy.

"It has been good. I have worked with him since I was 15," Rashid said.

"I've been to see him twice in Australia to work on my bowling and he has been a big influence on my development."

And Jenner has continued to offer advice and support.

"I spoke to him two weeks ago, he was in England coaching at the time," Rashid said.

"Just to have a general chat about my performances and where I am at at the moment.

"It is a friendship. I grew up with him and, talking with him, I learn about myself and the game."

Jenner was a long-time mentor to Warne and Rashid said he had also picked the latter's brains during his time as captain of English county Hampshire.

"I spoke to Shane Warne a couple of times," Rashid said.

"We were talking about how to set batsmen up, the different types of delivery and field-placing.

"As I was growing up, I was watching Shane Warne bowling on TV and he was my role model."

Australian all-rounder James Hopes was impressed by Rashid's performance at the Oval.

"After a couple of overs it was always our plan to try and make him go without any wickets and try and take confidence away from him that way," Hopes said.

"But then he came out and batted very well.

"They are a good team and match up well against us.

"They bat deep and have a lot of bowlers, as do we.

"He's still very young and we'll keep taking note of him. If they keep producing dry wickets then he'll be hard to play, but if we get him on a wicket that doesn't suit we'll find out about him."

Hopes, who hit an unbeaten 18 off 11 balls and conceded just 14 runs off five overs at the Oval, has become a regular in Australia's one-day side in recent years, but he was not taking his spot for granted.

"I don't think you ever feel that you are established in this side.

"There are so many good players on the sidelines that you don't want to think you are in the side permanently," the 31-year-old Queenslander said.

"I'm feeling a bit more comfortable in my role, which is sometimes a bit hard to figure out.

"Sometimes I open, I've batted three and I've batted as low as nine. I've bowled in the first 10 overs or not until the 35th.

"I'm getting more comfortable with that 'Mr Fix It' role we need.

"If I can keep doing that for another two years until the 2011 World Cup, I'll be happy"

- AAP