Saqib Mahmood eyes Ashes spot regardless of signing white-ball contract

Saqib Mahmood hopes he can force his way into England’s plans for next winter’s Ashes – despite signing a white-ball contract with his county.

The fast bowler played two Tests matches in the West Indies in March 2022 but then suffered consecutive back stress fractures and has not worn England whites since.

On Friday, Lancashire announced that Mahmood had penned a three-year white-ball deal, with just an ‘option’ for him to play red-ball cricket.

But while that news appeared to suggest the 27-year-old was moving on from the longer format, he insists he is as eager as ever to return to the Test fold.

‘I would love to play Test cricket again,’ Mahmood tells Mail Sport. ‘If I can get through the winter injury-free again, I can maybe get a red ball in hand next summer and try and get back into that Test team.

Fast bowler Saqib Mahmood played two Tests for England in the West Indies in March 2022

 The 27-year-old has not played international Test cricket since then but is eying an Ashes spot

Mahmood (right) represented England against Australia in a T20 international in September

‘I made it through this summer without any injuries and hopefully I can keep doing the right things now and that’s all behind me. But I’ve just got to be smart.’

Mahmood has played just four County Championship matches since his two Tests in the Caribbean, when he took six wickets at 22.83.

However, under the leadership of Rob Key, Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes, England have shown they are happy to select players regardless of their number of red ball appearances.

Mahmood is also one of the few genuine quicks in the country, with England making no secret of their desire to take a ‘battery of fast bowlers’ to Australia next winter.

‘I know what I bring to the table and if it’s something that fits the bill, which I hope it does, then hopefully it will be good enough,’ says Mahmood, speaking at the launch of cinch’s new store in Manchester.

‘I’d like to think over the next six to 12 months, as I keep getting stronger, my pace should go up again. At my best, I am high 80mph to 90mph and pretty consistent with my skill. In red-ball cricket, I feel like I can hold mid 80s and push myself to high 80s as soon as there is a chance to attack or there is reverse swing.

‘Australia is somewhere I’ve enjoyed in the past. I’ve had success in the Big Bash. I bowl that slightly fuller length and I feel that is in the game a lot more out there.

‘Australians are built on the back foot game, whereas my length, attacking the stumps a bit more has been quite effective. Even when I went as a youngster in Perth on an Under 19s tour, I had a lot of success.’

Mahmood returned to the England fold last month in the T20 series against Australia and is part of their squad for the upcoming white-ball tour of the West Indies.

‘I have not had any chats around Test cricket yet,’ he adds. ‘I have got the Caribbean tour at the forefront of my mind and trying to get into both white-ball teams and nailing my place down. The Test stuff will look after itself in the future if it happens.’