Teenager Ashraf is hoping for Yorkshire pace spot

MOIN ASHRAF hopes to build on an encouraging start to his Yorkshire career and cement his place in the county’s first team.

Ashraf, 19, made an instant impact after making his Championship debut at the end of last season.

He took nine wickets in the final two games as Yorkshire recorded a third-placed finish.

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The right-arm pace bowler was straight into his stride against eventual champions Nottinghamshire at Trent Bridge.

He took 2-11 as the home team were dismissed for 59 in their first innings, removing Australian batsman Adam Voges and England all-rounder Samit Patel.

Ashraf picked up 1-50 second time around as Yorkshire recorded a five-wicket win.

The Bradford-born player fared even better against Kent at Headingley Carnegie as he captured 5-32 in the first innings and 1-13 in the second innings – a notable effort in a losing cause.

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Now Ashraf wants to prove those figures were no flash in the pan as he looks ahead to the coming campaign. His target is to win a regular place and build on his efforts in 2010.

“I thought I made a good start to my career and I want to continue that and play as many first-team games as I can for Yorkshire this season,” he said. “I’m young and eager to learn and, if I can mix that with my potential, hopefully I can go far. I’m an optimistic person but I’m just taking it one day at a time.

“If I get picked, I’ll give 150 per cent and wear the White Rose with pride; if I don’t get picked and I’m carrying the drinks, I’ll still give 150 per cent.”

Ashraf, who bowls at good pace and can swing it both ways, is six-foot plus with a free-flowing action. Many good judges believe he has something special and a promising future.

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He signed his first professional contract last October and is available and willing to play throughout the season.

“I’m on a gap year from university, so I’m available to play for Yorkshire all summer,” he confirmed. “If all goes to plan, I’m looking to go to Leeds Metropolitan University next year.

“My ambition is to play all forms of the game and, hopefully, I’ll get a chance in one-day cricket as well.

“But there’s a lot of competition for places at the club and I’m keeping my feet firmly on the ground.”

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One of the most impressive things about Ashraf last summer was the way he took the challenge in his stride.

Yorkshire were chasing the Championship title when Ashraf got his chance – a goal that might have fazed other youngsters.

“I’d like to think I’m not fazed by pressure and that I’ve got a cool head,” said Ashraf, who came up through the county’s youth system. “When I go out on to that arena, I just think, ‘You know what, forget it. It’s going to be what it’s going to be.’

“Whatever happens is destined to happen. You can’t change that, and I think that attitude runs in my family.

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“We’re a very close-knit family and my mum and dad have brought me up well.

“What happened at the end of last season is credit to them because they’ve put a lot of hard work into my cricket career.”

Ashraf hopes one day to follow Yorkshire pace bowlers Ryan Sidebottom, Tim Bresnan and Ajmal Shahzad into the England team.

He says they have been a great source of inspiration and encouragement.

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Ashraf also has the advantage of working with one of the best coaches in the business – Steve Oldham.

The Yorkshire bowling coach has brought on many famous names over the years – including Darren Gough, one of Ashraf’s heroes.

“Steve is a great man,” said Ashraf.

“I’ve got so much respect for him and he knows how to treat different individuals.

“He is a great coach, a very polite gentleman, and he’s done a brilliant job for the club over the years. You can’t help but learn from someone like him.”

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Ashraf will step up his bid to win a regular place on Yorkshire’s forthcoming tour of Barbados.

The players are spending 12 days in the West Indies from March 13 in an effort to hit the new season running.

They are part-funding the trip themselves as the club go through a difficult period financially.

But Ashraf and fellow youngster Gurman Randhawa, a talented spin bowler, have each received £1,000 sponsorship from the Yorkshire Players’ Association to pay their tour costs.

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“I’d like to thank Bryan Stott, the chairman of the Players’ Association, for giving me this sponsorship to go to the West Indies,” added Ashraf.

“It was amazing for Gurman and myself to receive that money and we’ll be looking to make the most of the opportunity. The conditions out there are going to be tough, mentally and physically, and will provide a great test. We saw what benefit going on a pre-season tour to the West Indies had last year as the lads played well early season and then all through the season, so hopefully that can happen again.”

Ashraf, who played two other first-class matches for Yorkshire last summer, against Loughborough University and India A, is wary of making rash predictions about the forthcoming campaign.

“We’ve got a young and versatile squad,” he said. “The future of Yorkshire looks good and hopefully we can play some good cricket this season.