Saqib Mahmood admits he found it ‘very challenging’ after being snubbed for England’s Ashes squad

Saqib Mahmood admits he was stung more by his Ashes snub this winter than the scrutiny placed upon him for being smashed for 28 runs in an over here.

The Lancashire fast bowler, who turns 25 in February, has endured an up and down 12 months in which he finished player of the one-day series versus Pakistan last summer and put his name in the frame for winter tour selection with a maiden five-wicket haul in first-class cricket during a Roses victory over Yorkshire.

However, overlooked for the Test squad in Australia, he remained with England Lions, then plundered 13 wickets in six matches for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League before featuring in last weekend’s double header against West Indies – including returning the fourth most expensive final over in Twenty20 internationals in what was nevertheless a one-run win for Eoin Morgan‘s team.

Fast bowler Saqib Mahmood admits he was stung  by his England Ashes snub this winter

He has endured an up and down 12 months in which he finished player of the one-day series versus Pakistan last summer

‘I found it very challenging being with the Lions, just because I’ve been around the England squad for the last two or three years,’ Mahmood said.

‘I had a side injury at the end of the season and was told my fitness – trying to potentially play five Test matches – was one of the things which impacted my selection. I’ve obviously got my views and wanted to go out there and prove my fitness.

‘I think you go through phases in your career; you come into this environment and you’re happy to be here when you first get here.

‘I feel like I’m at the stage now where I don’t just want to be here, I want to come in and I want to make an impact and perform. I got a taste of doing that in the summer, feeling like the main guy, really part of the team and contributing all the time – that’s where I want to be in all three formats.

He plundered 13 wickets in six matches for Sydney Thunder in the Big Bash League

‘You’ve got to earn that, it comes with time and hopefully when I get my opportunities, I can take them.’

Some will say he missed one when West Indies number 10 Akeal Hosein collared him for three sixes off the final three deliveries in Bridgetown a week ago, at a time when England are sifting through death-over candidates for this year’s World Cup.

But Mahmood said: ‘The margins for error at this level are very small. I was fairly relaxed because the total was 20 off three so I played it safe and just went with length rather than wide yorkers.

Akeal Hosein collared him for three sixes off the final three deliveries in Bridgetown a week ago

‘He obviously struck three good balls but they were never winning. The last three balls were just a case of foot behind the line.

‘If you saw my reaction, I had a massive smile on my face because I knew what I needed to do.

‘It didn’t look great for me but at the end of the day whether we win by one run or 10 runs, it’s still a win and obviously I just took one for the team a little bit.’