Umer Rashid was born in Southampton on February 6, 1976, but soon moved to Middlesex, where he joined the county staff as a 19-year-old in 1995. He made his first-class debut the following season, and as a student at South Bank University, he also appeared for the British Universities side in the Benson & Hedges Cup. His ability was confirmed when he was selected for England U19 against South Africa. Rashid had limited opportunities at Middlesex, and had played in just two first-class matches when he moved to Sussex for the start of the 1999 season. There, his ability began to come to fruition. In 2000, he scored his maiden first-class century – 110 against Glamorgan at Colwyn Bay – and with his left-arm spin, he took his first and only five-wicket haul.

The following season Rashid was a regular member of the side that won promotion from Division Two of the County Championship, and against Durham in July 2001, he carried Sussex to the top of the table with his finest allround performance. Rashid scored 109 in Sussex's first innings, then helped skittle Durham for 202, taking 4-9 in 9.1 overs. Sussex won by 133 runs, with 5.5 overs of the match remaining.

Rashid's overall figures do not do him justice. In 41 first-class matches he scored 1421 runs at 25.37, with two hundreds and seven fifties, and took 49 wickets at 42.30. In 71 one-day appearances he scored 564 runs at 13.75, and took 73 wickets at 33.34. Yet Rashid was described by his club captain Chris Adams as "probably the most naturally gifted player on the staff". Like Ben Hollioake before him, Rashid's best was almost certainly to come.

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