Taunts don't worry Mahmood

Sajid Mahmood celebrates a wicket on his Test debut at Lord's in May © Getty Images

Sajid Mahmood is confident he can handle anything the Australian crowds throw at him when England launch their defence of the Ashes.

The notoriously partisan fans Down Under have long since had a reputation as the most boisterous in the world and, with the forthcoming series one of the most eagerly-anticipated in history, passions are sure to be running high in the stands as well as on the pitch.

But warnings of a hostile reception do not bother Mahmood, who was routinely abused by Pakistan supporters this summer for betraying his family’s Pakistani heritage.

He showed few signs of being affected - indeed, if anything, the uncomplimentary remarks spurred him on - and insists he is a stronger cricketer because of the experience.

“There will be plenty of stick in Australia - everyone knows that,” Mahmood told ecb.co.uk.

“I got a fair bit this summer from Pakistan fans but I think I coped with that pretty well.

Mahmood claims much of his success comes from having a relaxed action © Getty Images

“It doesn’t really bother me that much because once you’re on that field there’s only you against the batsman or you against the bowler.

“What happened to me this season has helped a lot.

"I suppose if I went straight to Australia without any of that behind me, it might have been a lot harder with their fans giving us a load of stick.

“But I know what it’s like now and I’ve come through it, so if it happens again in Australia I know I can cope."

The first Ashes Test gets under way in Brisbane on November 23, barely six months since Mahmood made his Test debut.

He announced himself with three wickets in his first four overs, and five in the match, against Sri Lanka at Lord’s, and helped seal a series victory over Pakistan with a blistering spell of 4-22 at Headingley later in the summer.

Mahmood’s raw pace, allied to an ability to reverse swing the old ball, is seen by many as crucial to England’s prospects of retaining the Ashes in the markedly different climate of the southern hemipshere.

Mahmood is presented with his Test cap by skipper Andrew Flintoff © Getty Images

“I’ve never been to Australia before but I’ve heard about the wickets,” said Mahmood, speaking at the final of the NatWest Speed Stars, a competition to find the fastest young bowlers in the country.

“They’re supposed to be quicker and have a bit more bounce than over here, so hopefully that will suit my bowling.

“It’s good to hear but, whatever the wickets are like, you’ve still got to bowl in the right areas.

“I know I’ve still got a lot of things to work on, like bowling more consistent lines and learning to bowl to different batsman.”

Blessed with a natural, relaxed action, Mahmood has clocked above 90mph on the speed gun for England, but insists there is more to come.

“The main thing about my bowling is to get rhythm, and when I’ve got that I bowl pretty well,” he said.

“I know I need to get fitter and stronger, and there are a few technical aspects in my action that I need to work on.

“But there are probably a couple of extra miles an hour in me. I know I can bowl quicker.”