It was a tough assignment for Adil Rashid to try to bowl Yorkshire to victory in their opening Specsavers County Championship match on an unforgiving April pitch.
But irrespective of the leg-spinner's fortunes at Headingley against Hampshire, Yorkshire coach Jason Gillespie has seen enough to be sure Rashid is worth his place in England's Test team in all conditions.
The 28-year-old begins the season on the back of a big winter in white-ball cricket, with Gillespie's Adelaide Strikers in the Big Bash and for England too.
His 10-year career has also brought him 418 first-class wickets to date, though - and after his selection as a second spin option alongside Moeen Ali for three Tests against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates before Christmas, Gillespie insists he ought to be picked more regularly.
"I certainly think he has the potential [to be England's first-choice spin option] - no question, without a doubt," said the former Australia Test seamer.
"I firmly believe he could be number one.
"That should be his goal, to be the number one spinner.
"I know he's working really hard to achieve that, and there's a strong chance that will happen."
Moeen, who made his name for Worcestershire primarily as a batsman, has taken 64 wickets in 23 Tests with his off-breaks.
Gillespie is an admirer, but believes a wrist-spinner's ability to turn the ball both ways is a major weapon in cricket at all levels.
"I just think 'pick your best spinner'," he said.
"I think Moeen Ali is a very good spinner as well . (but) my personal opinion is that 'leggies' are like gold.
"With a 'leggie', you find a way to make it work."
He acknowledges Rashid has some way to go to convince England's selectors - but personally, he would have him in the Test team already.
"Obviously they don't see him as the number one yet.
"I don't know what more they want . I'm (only) guessing.
"I think he is ready to play, and I'd love to see him given a number of [Test] matches.
"He just needs to keep putting pressure on, and I think he's got a pretty good grasp of his game at the moment. He's getting better and better.
"The only way he's going to continue to do that [in Test cricket] is by actually playing."
It is difficult, not just in Test cricket, for coaches and selectors to prioritise a long-term view - when results can affect their own careers too.
"That's the conundrum," added Gillespie.
"England have got to find the balance between winning this Test match, now, and developing their players.
"Do they give 'Rash' a bank of games, in the hope he's going to become the great bowler we believe he [can]?"
Gillespie is tempted to find room for both England's spinners in the current team, and not just in the desert.
"Moeen Ali hasn't done much wrong, and they like his batting option.
"I think Moeen is still suffering the stigma as being seen as a batsman who bowls a bit . he's actually a very good off-spinner.
"Rash is seen as the genuine spinner option . I think they can both play together in that Test team."
The key for Rashid, he believes, is good man-management on and off the pitch - which he is confident England's limited-overs captain Eoin Morgan provides.
"The language you use with 'Rash' is absolutely crucial . and I think that's where Eoin Morgan must be getting something pretty right.
"If you say to him, in four-day cricket, 'you've got to go for under three-an-over' you're asking for trouble.
"He just interprets that as defensive, and just spears it in.
"If you say 'Rash, you've got the field you want, a couple of guys out, just spin the ball hard and get it above the batsman's eyes' . all of a sudden, he's thinking of his craft and not about runs.
"He finishes his action off, gets a lot of spin on the ball, and creates that indecision."
In that environment, Rashid appears to be an improving bowler.
"What I saw with 'Rash' [recently] is he was trusting his bowling," said Gillespie.
"I think sometimes in the past he hasn't quite believed he will do it.
"He's more accepting that getting hit for runs (sometimes) is part of the game . but if he continues to spin the ball hard, get his 'wrong 'un' in, the law of averages suggests he'll be successful.
"It didn't surprise me that he did well. He's a cult figure in Adelaide now - they absolutely loved him."
Yorkshire and South Australia are believers then - now Rashid just needs to crack the rest of England.
Source: PA
