Sajid Mahmood is aiming to force his way back into England contention with a little help from Peter Moores.
Paceman wants another shot at international cricket
Lancashire fast bowler Sajid Mahmood is aiming to force his way back into England contention with a little help from Peter Moores.
Mahmood last played international cricket at the 2007 World Cup but is pushing hard for a recall after some impressive displays for the second-string Lions in New Zealand.
The 27-year-old's England prospects stalled under Moores but, with the latter now installed as Lancashire's new coach following his dismissal by the England and Wales Cricket Board, Mahmood is looking forward to them working together at Old Trafford.
"Peter has been a coach at the highest level so he knows what they are looking for in that standard of cricket," he said.
"I've already spoken to him before I came out here but I'll be sure to have a good chat with Peter when I get back to Lancashire to see what I need to be working on to get back into that England set up.
"He is a man with a lot of ideas to give to the side so the squad are looking forward to working with him.
"But the only way I'm going to put my hand up is by starting the county season well, taking lots of wickets and finding some form nice and early.
Ambition
"Obviously there will be a new coach coming in with England, whoever it may be, and all I can really do is keep doing my job for Lancashire and keep knocking at the door."
The Lions conclude their tour with a Twenty20 fixture against New Zealand A in New Plymouth on Thursday.
And with England still struggling in their search for a balanced team in the shortest international format, the match represents a good chance for the fringe contenders to impress ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup, which takes place on home soil in June.
"It's a massive year for England with the World Twenty20 coming over so we'll all hope to perform for that," Mahmood added.
"I've been in pretty good rhythm in New Zealand, I've felt pretty good and it's obviously nice to get five weeks of cricket and plenty of overs under your belt before the season starts.
"But I do think Twenty20 remains a little bit of a lottery. You can go in, get 200 or take some wickets early but it is still a bit of a mystery at this stage."
