PakPassion.net: Moving on to the current Ashes, what do you make of the way Australia have come back following their defeat in England earlier this year?

Ajmal Shahzad : I think Australia have stamped a bit of authority on England. From an outsider's point of view watching it on TV, it adds a little bit of spice to it and it has become a little bit more enjoyable. When the Aussies came to England, it became a bit of a one-sided affair and the fact is that England have been dominating Test cricket for quite a while. 

If you keep that in mind, then it was good to see the Australians come back with a bit of fire and venom. Mitchell Johnson had a fantastic game in Brisbane – whether he can do that day-in day-out in the next four Tests remains to be seen. Someone like Jimmy Anderson has done it day-in day-out for the last nine years so you can rely on him. Having said that, Johnson has the X-factor. He needs to produce that for the rest of the series. If Ryan Harris keeps bowling like he is – he’s their bread and butter alongside Peter Siddle - if they can both remain fit then Australia will do well. 

It’s going to be tough for England and they’re going to have to make some changes. They definitely have a lot of self-belief. It’s not going to get any easier and the verbals are going to keep on coming. They’re going to have to take it and give it back, there’s no point in just being gentlemanly and saying that it isn’t the way to play the sport. If that’s the way Australia are going to go about it, and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with it, then England need to come back harder, stronger, and fight together for one cause. Australia, in their own back garden, 1-0 up with the way that they won the first Test, they’re massively confident and they’re going to come even harder so England have to be ready for it.


PakPassion.net: England are churning out a lot of fast bowlers at the moment. Do you think the competition for places is as tough as it has ever been?

Ajmal Shahzad : Definitely. It's a time when England are producing fast bowlers and quality seamers for fun! When I first came on the scene, Graham Onions had just suffered from a stress fracture. There weren't many people who were challenging for places and I got a chance. Nowadays, the likes of James Anderson with his skill levels is the only one I can say who has really cemented his place for England. 

In the one-day set-up we now have the likes of Jade Dernbach, Stuart Meaker, Ben Stokes, Chris Jordan - all these boys who have had fantastic years have now been propelled into the England scene. Having said that, it only takes a few injuries or a few niggles and all of a sudden they require more bowlers. 

We're at a phase where the lads are staying fit. They are stronger than they have been, or the nutrition side is working for them, and we're producing a lot of bowlers who can bowl at good speeds. There are still only a few bowlers in the country who can bowl at 90mph. Stuart Meaker is a big strong fast bowler from Surrey who can and so can Jade Derbach. The quickest bowler in the country is Tymal Mills – he's a young left-arm quick. He's an athlete, a strong lad and he hasn't had many injuries, touch wood. I think it is the injuries that hold you back. Personally speaking, I want to get back to bowling 90mph because last year my pace was a little bit down. It may have been that my confidence was down or my rhythm was out. I wasn't sure but I didn't have the best of seasons with respect to pace.

As for myself, I've been getting stronger in the gym and also from bowling that I have managed to do so far. I'm not ruling myself out for anything. What you need to do is to have a good year with your county in all forms and impress. I don't think the selectors can ignore that and hopefully my time will come again.


PakPassion.net: What are your long-term plans?

Ajmal Shahzad : The aim is to get back into the international team. That is the aim of any county cricketer. I want to be at the top of the game and I want to play for England for as long as I possibly can. I've got a hard journey ahead of me, I just want to stay as fit as I possibly can for as long as I can and to perform with both bat and ball. If I do that, then I will be playing First Class cricket for 10-12 years and along the way hopefully I will be playing for England during my prime in the next couple of years.


PakPassion.net: There will be a lot of young cricketers with dreams and aspirations who will read this interview. Any advice for them?

Ajmal Shahzad : I was lucky enough to come from a background where I wasn't held back, where I was allowed to become a professional cricketer and I was supported fully. I've met many people out there, particularly from Asian backgrounds, who are held back from doing what they always wanted to do. Sometimes their families don't view the careers that they want with the same degree of enthusiasm and those youngsters aren't allowed to follow their dreams.

I would tell all of the youngsters out there to follow their dreams, to work hard and do what you want to do. Follow your heart, give it your all and you will always succeed.


PakPassion.net: Many thanks for your time and best wishes for the future.

Ajmal Shahzad : My pleasure.

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