Mahmood leans on Moores

Peter Moores casts a watchful eye over Sajid Mahmood during his time in charge of England

Sajid Mahmood has set his sights on staking his claim for an England return with a little help from Peter Moores.

The pace bowler’s international prospects stalled somewhat during Moores’ reign as England coach but, with the latter now in charge at Lancashire, the seamer is hoping to benefit from Moores’ advice on a day-to-day basis.

Mahmood has impressed for England Lions on their winter tour to New Zealand and has another chance to catch the selectors' eye in the final match of the trip tomorrow, a Twenty20 contest against New Zealand A in New Plymouth.

After that it is back to the county circuit, where Mahmood hopes he can take enough wickets to put his name in the hat during a bumper international summer for England, which features the World Twenty20 and the Ashes.

Mahmood said: “Peter has been a coach at the highest level so he knows what they are looking for in that standard of cricket.

“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.

Mahmood is eyeing a return to the England set-up with the World Twenty20 and Ashes on the horizon

“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.”

With England’s senior side losing the Twenty20 international in West Indies on Sunday, the Lions encounter at Pukekura Park provides a chance for those on the fringes international set-up to announce themselves in the shortest form of the game.

Mahmood echoed stand-in coach Andy Flower’s assessment that a consistently successful formula remains elusive for England, but admitted that selection for this year’s World Twenty20 served as a huge incentive.

“It’s a massive year for England with the World Twenty20 coming over, so we’ll all hope to perform for that,” he said.

“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.”