'Wasn't looking to play for Australia so soon' - Fawad

Rod Marsh can remember the gale. A howling, icy wind blowing in off the British west coast and flush into the face of Fawad Ahmed as he bowled for Australia A against Gloucestershire in Bristol, in June 2013. Fawad was not yet an Australian citizen at the time, and his leg-breaks were taking time to settle.

"It was bloody cold," Marsh said. "How can you bowl legspinners when it's cold, I don't know. Let's hope it's a warm summer, that's what I say. It was terribly cold when he played in that A team, I mean you couldn't hang onto the ball. We played one game at Gloucestershire, that was just freezing. He took a one-handed catch there too didn't he, best catch he's ever taken."

Upon taking that catch, Fawad was embraced with gusto by a team that included the likes of Steven Smith and Ryan Harris. But it would be some time before he would again get that close to the Australian Test team - nearly two years in fact, until Marsh announced him as the second spinner for dual tours of the West Indies and England this year.

At the time, everything was happening rapidly for Fawad, almost too much so. Cricket Australia's efforts to have his citizenship expedited to allow him to contend for the 2013 Ashes provided a distraction from his bowling, as did the whole concept of getting used to playing alongside the finest cricketers in the land. Absent from his shirt was the logo of the tour sponsor Victoria Bitter, as a nod to Fawad's teetotal, Muslim beliefs.

After the Ashes he would play ODI cricket for his new country, but the debate about the absence of the sponsor's logo overshadowed some promising spells. When he returned home and was said to be in contention for the home Ashes series, Fawad struggled to find his rhythm, and drifted from the selectors' thoughts. It appeared to have been a case of too much, too soon. It was in slowing down that his career sped back up.

"I changed my mind, I took the pressure off and I wasn't looking to play for Australia so soon, rather playing more for Victoria and performing at Shield level, that was the most important thing for me," Fawad said. "And at that time it was a lot of things happening off the field, and this time things are happening off the field but on the cricket ground I'm performing well, so it's a completely different thing and I'm looking forward to it.

"I was busy with that and it was pretty tense for me and I bowled well at that time as well and I was looking forward to representing my country, but after cricket there were so many things happening so quickly. It really rushed me and I didn't take the pressure. This time it will be different and better."

Fawad's 2013-14 was as troubled as Victoria's. A tyro captain in Matthew Wade wrestled with his new responsibilities, while the coach Greg Shipperd struggled to adjust to the new ways of Australian cricket, where national selection took precedence over trophies. As 2014-15 dawned, both Fawad and Victoria were under the radar, and the lack of scrutiny helped them to build a successful and ultimately Shield-winning season while also demonstrating the sorts of qualities desired by the selectors, namely strong batting and quality spin bowling.

"All the Victorian boys helped me, especially the coach Greg Shipperd and Matthew Wade he's been a really improved captain this year," Fawad said of Shipperd and Wade. "He really supported me behind the wicket and at training as well this year we've worked together. I got close to him this year. Last year was a terrible year for us and not good for me as well. But it's been great to be a good friend with the captain so he can support you and he really trusted me throughout the season He really helps me to bowl well and gives me confidence.

"We have a great system in this country, it's amazing, and this is such an amazing country. Everyone has an opportunity. If you work hard and you perform well there will be opportunities for you, it could be anyone and before starting this season I really worked hard and it was my aim to play more games for Victoria, and being a bowler to create more opportunities rather than take wickets. I bowled well, so I'm excited and looking forward to it."

Marsh summed up Fawad's attributes as a spin bowler capable of both attack and defence, while also possessing enough variety to outfox batsmen of all varieties. Googly, rushing top-spin, and ripping leg-break were all in evidence during his striking 8 for 89 against Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield final, and the national selectors could not help but take notice.

"He doesn't bowl too much rubbish, and he creates a lot of pressure," Marsh said. "He's able to have men around the bat in most instances and he keeps asking the batsmen questions. That's what most good spinners do, you need to be able to remain on as a legspinner. It is all very well ripping the ball, but if you bowl two full tosses, two long hops, it's very hard for the captain to keep you on. He maintains good economy and he asks many questions of both left and right-handed batsmen."

The sponsor's product has been in the news once more over the past 48 hours, as Australia's World Cup celebrations have been overflowing with the stuff - not to mention plenty of loud, even loutish pronouncements about its effects. But it all sat comfortably with Fawad, who noted that on this year's tours he will have a teetotal team-mate in his fellow Victorian Peter Siddle.

"I've been around in the system for five years," Fawad said. "Peter Siddle is not drinking either, so you can say he's my partner now and I'm really glad he's on the tour as well. We have some good spells on the field as well, so I'm happy to have him as well, hopefully we can win more games and enjoy them. That's their culture and their tradition, I knew that when I was coming to Australia and I'm comfortable with that. It's good the way they're enjoying it and celebrating."

Gloucestershire's chill wind has thus been replaced by the warm glow of Ashes selection. If two years ago was too soon for Fawad, then now seems precisely the right time.