Owais Shah is hoping to get the chance to transfer his one-day form into the Test arena on England's tour of New Zealand.
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Owais Shah is hoping to get the chance to transfer his one-day form into the Test arena on England's tour of New Zealand.
The Middlesex batsman had a frustrating time during the Test leg of the pre-Christmas visit to Sri Lanka when he was overlooked for Ravinder Bopara for the entire series.
Bopara struggled in those matches and has subsequently been axed for the Tests in New Zealand, opening the door for Shah to claim the middle-order vacancy.
The 29-year-old has made just two Test appearances, debuting against India in Mumbai in March 2006 and playing a solitary match last summer against West Indies before making way for the return of Michael Vaughan.
"My goal for this tour will be to try to establish myself in the Test side," Shah told
PA Sport.
"I got a run in the team in the one-day side and have proved myself to some extent and hopefully I can do the same with the Test side if I get the opportunity.
"I'm really pleased to be in both squads for the tour to New Zealand and I feel fully involved with the one-day team which is really good.
"Obviously Test cricket is where I want to be and I'll certainly be trying to break in so I'm hoping I'll get that chance.
"Every kid who loves cricket dreams of playing Test cricket for their country when they're growing up and I'm no different.
"I've made progress in the one-day side so moving into the five-day game is something I'm trying to do, but I guess time will tell if I make it."
Confident
Shah says England are in confident mood ahead of the one-day squad's departure for Auckland on Saturday, having triumped 3-2 in the limited-overs series in Sri Lanka.
"Morale is high in the squad after beating Sri Lanka on their own turf in the one dayers and obviously we defeated India in England in the summer as well," Shah said.
"They are two of the best one-day teams in the world and so we take a lot of fight and confidence from those victories.
"We've won two ODI series on the trot now so hopefully we can replicate that against New Zealand and make it three out of three.
"There's been a main training camp at Loughborough which will have helped the guys on their sharpness ahead of the tour.
"We've done lots of fitness and cricket-based stuff which is important but it's all about trying to peak at the right time."
Staying cool
Shah believes the conditions in New Zealand will suit England, especially in contrast to the hot, humid weather they experienced in Sri Lanka.
"It should be a bit easier than the hot, humid and sticky conditions in Sri Lanka, which can be a hard place to play cricket," he added.
"I've been to New Zealand on a one-day tour with England so I know what to expect and lot of the other guys have experience of playing there.
"Conditions are very English ones, especially with the weather and I'm certain our bowlers will come into their own which will put pressure on them straight away.
"I think the conditions will favour our bowlers and in a way it will also help our batsmen because they are used to it as well.
"But we will still have to play really well in both the Tests and ODIs if we are to come away with a series victory in both formats."
England are scheduled to play two Twenty20 internationals and five one-dayers in New Zealand. The opening T20 fixture takes place at Eden Park, Auckland on February 5.
