Former England skipper Alastair Cook yesterday dismissed the furore over Adil Rashid, calling it an "obvious selection" and said the selectors made a "brave call" in picking him for the first Test against India.

Rashid was selected despite quitting red-ball cricket ahead of the 2018 county season and having not played a first-class game since September. "The way Adil has been playing and bowling for the one-dayers, it seemed quite an obvious selection.