New kid on the block Shahzad prepared to play waiting game

Shahzad made an encouraging debut against Bangladesh at Old Trafford, taking four wickets in England's crushing innings victory.

But the 24-year-old believes he can do even better.

"I showed glimpses of what I'm all about at Old Trafford and when my nerves calmed down I got into the groove," he said.

"But I'd been out of cricket quite a while prior to that game – I'd only played one match for Yorkshire since coming back from the World Twenty20 – and felt a little bit rusty in my batting and bowling.

"It was great to be out there and nice to be playing, but I'd love to have gone into the game on the back of a few more wickets and runs.

"I think I've got a lot more to offer with bat and ball, although I was reasonably happy with the way things went."

Shahzad is realistic about his international ambitions, appreciating he's still a new kid on the block.

He feels he must earn the right to get another chance.

"I've had a taste of Test cricket now and I definitely want more, but at the same time I know I've got to be patient," he added.

"There's people to come back into the team like Stuart Broad and Tim Bresnan, and they've already made their name at international level.

"I'm ready to go back into county cricket now, put in some more hard graft and work really hard in Yorkshire's colours.

"Then, if another opportunity comes along, I'll be ready to take it."

Two things were apparent from Shahzad's display in Manchester: his blistering pace, which regularly touched 90mph, and the way the England players took him to their hearts.

"The England lads are a really nice bunch to be around," he said. "Swanny (Graeme Swann) looked after me a lot, KP (Kevin Pietersen) looked after me very well, and I couldn't have asked for better support.

"I'd played a few games with some of the lads before: I'd played with Finny (Steven Finn) and I knew Morgs (Eoin Morgan) quite well, which also helped me settle in.

"But all the England squads I've been involved in so far have been full of very nice guys, and it's been a tremendous privilege to be alongside them."

Commenting on his bowling firepower, Shahzad said: "I know I can bowl 90mph and possibly higher.

"But I'd like to get up towards the mid-90s now and still swing the ball. That's what I've got to aim for.

"The most important thing is to match pace with control.

"It's nice to bowl at good speed, but I want to be able to swing it both ways at will and also at pace, while at the same time keeping maximum control."

The last few months have been a dream for Shahzad.

He has gone from the England Performance Programme in South Africa to making his one-day international debut in Bangladesh, followed by being a member of England's victorious World Twenty20 squad to making his Test debut.

"A lot has happened to me in the last six months," he admitted.

"To go from the England Performance Programme to the Test team has been quite amazing.

"It's come very fast, but I've worked hard for that as well. I've put in a lot of hard work in the last two or three years and it's always been my aim to play for England at a younger age than some people perhaps expected me to.

"People think bowlers mature at 27 or 28, or something like that, but I want to be in-and-around the England squad now and play for as long as I possibly can, and learn as much as I possibly can."

Shahzad was left out of England's one-day squad for the forthcoming NatWest Series against Australia but is on standby for the tournament.

He is determined to play in all forms of the game.

"I want to play all forms of cricket for England," he said. "And I feel I can adapt to all forms.

"I can understand not being involved in the one-day squad this time because Jimmy Anderson's back, Stuart Broad's back and Tim Bresnan's back, and they've had a lot more experience than me and worked very hard to get a place in the squad.

"Now I've got to work twice as hard to try and knock one of them out of a spot and be ready to step up and play if a position opens up.

"I have to make sure I keep knocking on the door."

One benefit of Shahzad's omission from the one-day party is that he can play more for Yorkshire.

"I'm really looking forward to playing more cricket and doing my best for Yorkshire," he said.

"We've got a fantastic spirit and a very strong unit."

Shahzad's rise

May 2004 – Becomes first British-born Asian to play for Yorkshire first team when he plays a one-day game against Worcestershire at Headingley

August 2006 – Makes first-class debut against Middlesex at Scarborough

October 2009 – Chosen for England's Performance Programme squad to tour South Africa

March 2010 – Makes one-day international debut against Bangladesh in Chittagong

April/May 2010 – Part of England's Twenty20 World Cup-winning squad in the West Indies

June 2010 – Makes Test debut against Bangladesh at Old Trafford, taking four wickets in all.