NASSER HUSSAIN: Saqib Mahmood should be used for more than just away days

Saqib Mahmood should not be labelled as a bowler to be exclusively used in overseas conditions just because he has some skills with the old ball and a slingy action.

As we saw on Sunday, he’s handy with the new ball too and, during the Roses clash last summer, I noted how skilful he is as a traditional seamer. He pitched the ball up, got proper orthodox away swing and bowled a heavy ball.

Yes, he might prove useful in alien conditions but to limit him to just that going forward would be doing him a disservice. He has all the attributes to be successful in various guises and in varying situations.

Mahmood should not be labelled as a bowler to be exclusively used in overseas conditions

What we have seen this week is that he’s definitely quick enough for Test cricket and that he was able to hit an unresponsive Kensington Oval pitch hard and get something out of it. He can hurry batters by hitting the splice of the bat despite things looking placid.

This was a good debut. No doubt he will be disappointed with his wicket off the no-ball in the first innings, but he has shown he is someone that England should be persevering with. The lengths he produced on the final day in Bridgetown were excellent.

Mahmood is someone the England hierarchy have kept their eye on for a long time. I remember talking to Chris Silverwood in New Zealand in late 2019 and he told me he liked the look of this lad.

Chris Silverwood (left) said in New Zealand in late 2019 that he liked the look of Mahmood

England’s second Test (above) proved that Mahmood is also skilful as a traditional seamer

Even back then, Silvers was talking about him playing in this winter’s Ashes, that he was the kind of bowler we needed away from home. As I say, he is, but it’s not all he is.

He is a product of his environment and I think it’s significant that he has learnt to bowl on a Test pitch at Old Trafford.

On that surface, you do need to be a little bit quicker, bowl a heavy ball and get it reversing later in the innings.

When someone like him comes through and impresses like he has, it’s actually a good lesson to us all regarding the types of pitches we ought to be playing on.

Your average county medium dobber won’t get much out of an unresponsive surface in Manchester like he does.

Fitness will always be key for a fast bowler but it looks like he is able to maintain his speeds

The 25-year-old now needs more exposure, and exposure at home to thrive for England

Fitness will always be a key thing for a fast bowler, too, but it looks like he is able to maintain his speeds in later spells and that has always been the great thing about Jimmy Anderson.

Whenever called to bowl with the second new ball in the evening, Jimmy’s energy and physical strength meant that his last ball of the day was just as quick as his first. Mahmood looks of similar stock.

One thing I will say is that this is just a start for Mahmood. But a good start.

Now, he needs more exposure, and exposure at home, as England look to life after Anderson and Stuart Broad. He must be part of their future.