Desire to make mark hampers return for Shahzad

The 24-year-old was, in common with the rest of the Tykes attack, made to toil on the second day of the Roses encounter at Headingley.

Shahzad claimed figures of 1-61 from 21 overs as Lancashire reached the halfway stage of a rain-affected game on 272-5.

It was a steady if unspectacular return to action for a bowler who, despite being part of the Twenty20 World Cup winning squad for England, was last in competitive action in Yorkshire's County Championship draw with Kent in April.

Shahzad, who re-joined his White Rose team-mates last Friday after failing to make the Test side to face Bangladesh at Lord's, said: "I found it hard to get into a groove and the rhythm was not really there early on.

"In my first spell, I probably had too much energy.

"I would not say I was rusty, just that I had too much energy. I was probably too eager. I wanted to hit the wicket as hard as possible, rather than let it happen more naturally.

"But I put some hard graft in and in my second spell I felt good. I felt as if I was getting back into some sort of rhythm, though in my third and fourth spells I maybe got ahead of myself again.

"If I am honest, it was the same at the start of the season. I came in against Warwickshire (in the opening Yorkshire game of the season) and found it difficult but eventually settled down."

Watched by England selector James Whitaker, Shahzad did claim some reward for his efforts with his pace being enough to shatter Stephen Moore's stumps during the afternoon session.

It was a welcome fillip for someone who is determined to build on his initial call-up in international cricket.

To do so, however, he appreciates that impressing for Yorkshire is likely to be his best hope.

He said: "I enjoyed my time with England. I was disappointed not to bowl more but I was in two winning squads (the Twenty20 and the Test series in Bangladesh) and that is an enjoyable feeling.

"Hopefully, I can get some more games under my belt in the future.

"I am not thinking about England. I have just come (back to Yorkshire) to get some overs and some rhythm.

"I got into the England squad with my performances out in the middle (for Yorkshire)."

Shahzad's main focus right now, however, is trying to help shoot out the remaining five Lancashire batsmen in today's morning session to give Yorkshire a chance of claiming a first Roses win at Headingley since 2001.

He said: "It was a difficult day on a flat wicket. It didn't help us at all, as there was minimum movement and the ball didn't swing.

"But, hopefully, we can stick at it and get a couple of early wickets."