ENGLAND find themselves in an interesting position.

Against the odds, they have won the Ashes with a Test to spare, something that was unthinkable following the Lord’s shambles.

In doing so, they have shown themselves to be a fine team with some excellent players capable of making some of the world’s best look ordinary.

But now comes the crunch. Do they stick or twist? With a three-Test series to come against Pakistan in the UAE later in the year, this is the only opportunity Trevor Bayliss and Alastair Cook have to assess their options.

Unlike in other sports, there are no friendlies or dress rehearsals here. The reality of international cricket is that you have to learn as you go in a competitive environment.

Which brings us to the conundrum of Adil Rashid. The Yorkshire leg-spinner is a player England are likely to need in the Emirates heat.

Yet, he is uncapped at Test level and including him for next week’s final match at the Oval carries an element of risk.

England have built up a serious amount of momentum over the past few weeks after pummelling Australia into submission at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge.

Trying to crowbar Rashid into the team as a second spinner alongside Worcestershire’s Moeen Ali poses a threat to that equilibrium but they might not have another option.

Having played so well over the summer they are now damned if they do and damned if they don’t.

Two years ago, England had an unassailable 3-1 series lead and brought in Simon Kerrigan at the Oval for a match that was eventually drawn.

It turned out to be Kerrigan’s first and, to date, only appearance in an England shirt.

That’s not to say Rashid will go the same way but it shows what can happen.