Shahzad's relaxed approach paying off

Ajmal Shahzad is the latest player off the Yorkshire production line to make the step up to Test squad level. Nick Westby charts the all-rounder's progress from Woodhouse Grove School to England.

FROM pioneer to the England team in a little over five years, with very little first-class cricket in between, Ajmal Shahzad's rise has been a dramatic one.

On May 23, 2004, the Bradford-raised pace bowler made history by becoming the first Yorkshire-born Asian to represent the White Rose county.

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He then had to wait five years before transforming sporadic appearances into a regular berth in Yorkshire's starting XI in the county championship.

"I was dogged by injury early on in my career," explains the 24-year-old, who yesterday continued his rise by being named in England's Test and One-Day International squads to tour Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates next month.

"I had a stress fracture at 18 and it's only really been the last year when I have played first-class cricket for Yorkshire.

"There's always been a Bresnan in front of me, or a Hoggard, a Morkel or a Kruis. It's been really hard for me to cement a spot."

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When he finally got the chance to build on the foundations he had laid, there was no hanging around for Shahzad.

He took 41 first-class wickets at an average of 34.26 in 2009, second only to Matthew Hoggard, a return that prompted his team-mates to name him their player of the year, and helped the club's hierarchy to decide to give him priority over Hoggard in contract discussions.

They needed to act swiftly with Middlesex and Worcester heading a queue of seven counties who wanted to take Shahzad off Yorkshire's hands.

"I was delighted to commit my future to Yorkshire," said Huddersfield-born Shahzad, who also added 451 first-class runs to his cv in 2009.

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"Thankfully, my cricket has taken off over the last couple of years. I've been a lot more relaxed, I've enjoyed playing and not concentrated too much on trying too hard.

"I've taken my opportunities in the last couple of years and done well.

"Obviously, the selectors have seen what I have got to offer, even though I have only had a limited amount of time on the field.

"With the (England) Lions last year, I showed what I was capable of with the ball, but not necessarily with the bat."

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His rise has been predicted by all those who have helped him on his journey, from his coach at Woodhouse Grove School, through his club cricket at Elland in the Huddersfield League and Windhill in the Bradford League, and into the Yorkshire Academy.

One word that comes up time and again is 'maturity'.

"He was far too mature for most schoolboy opponents of his age, and he can bat very well in addition to being a fearsome bowler," said the late Graham Roope, the former England batsman and his coach at Woodhouse Grove.

"He had a good season for us and matured quite considerably in the last 12 months," said Martyn Moxon, Yorkshire's director of professional cricket.

"Ajmal is an exciting prospect with bat and ball and we were very keen to keep him at the end of last season, especially in the face of so many interested parties.

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"He's a driven character and he wants to be the best he can be and has always had a great desire to play international cricket. He also handles himself well away from the field and looks after himself.

"He will keep his feet on the ground, despite all this. What Ajmal will understand as well is that there is still plenty of hard work to be put in.

"He is by no means the finished article but there is still a lot more to come from him."

For Moxon – who has seen Adil Rashid, Tim Bresnan, Andrew Gale and David Wainwright all gain England recognition in the past 12 months – Shahzad is also an eager student, and always willing to improve his all-round game.

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Moxon said: "He's taken on board what we've said as coaches and what Steve Morgan has been working with him on for a number of years. Steve has made sure his action is effective and safe and Ajmal has bought into that.

"All that gives him good pace and makes him more confident in line and length.

"He put in some really fantastic spells during the last season and showed he is capable of taking wickets. He swings the ball conventionally and with reverse swing – he's got both in his armoury.

"People will also have taken notice of the fact that he is comfortable with the bat as well."

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Throughout his rise through the ranks, when his patience was tested by injury and more experienced players, Shahzad has not placed pressure on himself by setting goals, a policy he sees no reason to change now he is in the England fold.

"I'm not setting any targets," he stressed. "I didn't last year and I won't this year.

"I'll take every step as it comes and just enjoy my cricket."

Bangladesh tour squads and itinerary

One-Day international squad

A Cook (captain, Essex)

T Bresnan (Yorkshire)

S Broad (Notts)

P Collingwood (Durham)

J Denly (Kent)

E Morgan (Middlesex)

M Prior (Sussex)

K Pietersen (Hampshire)

L Plunkett (Durham)

R Sidebottom (Notts)

A Shahzad (Yorkshire)

G Swann (Notts)

J Tredwell (Kent)

J Trott (Warwickshire)

L Wright (Sussex)

Test squad

A Cook (captain, Essex)

I Bell (Warwickshire)

S Broad (Notts)

M Carberry (Hampshire)

P Collingwood (Durham)

S Davies (Surrey)

G Onions (Durham)

K Pietersen (Hampshire)

L Plunkett (Durham)

M Prior (Sussex)

A Shahzad (Yorkshire)

R Sidebottom (Notts)

G Swann (Notts)

J Tredwell (Kent)

J Trott (Warwickshire)

L Wright (Sussex)

Schedule

Tue, Feb 23: Bangladesh Cricket Board XI v England XI (Narayanganj Osmani Stadium, Fatullah).

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Thu, Feb 25: Bangladesh Cricket Board XI v England X (Narayanganj Osmani Stadium, Fatullah).

Sun, Feb 28 – 1st ODI: Bangladesh v England (Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur).

Tue, Mar 2 – 2nd ODI: Bangladesh v England (Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur).

Fri, Mar 5 – 3rd ODI: Bangladesh v England (Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong)

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Sun, Mar 7-Tue Mar 9: Bangladesh A v England XI (MA Aziz Stadium, Chittagong).

Fri, Mar 12-Tue Mar 16 – 1st Test: Bangladesh v England (Zohur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chittagong).

Sat, Mar 20-Wed, Mar 24 – 2nd Test: Bangladesh v England (Shere Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur).v