Owais back at top after banishing demons

Owais Alam Shah was born in Karachi, but came to England as a toddler with his parents and grew up in Isleworth. He went to Lampton School in Hounslow and learned his cricket at the nearby Wycombe House club. His prodigious batting talent was spotted early and he was representing Middlesex from the age of 12.

He went on his first England A tour to Australia as a 17-year-old schoolboy. After captaining England's Under-19s he started to lose his way.

The Middlesex camp had not been a happy one for two or three years and the discontent bubbled to the surface last year with the sacking of coach Mike Gatting and the messy departure of star batsman Mark Ramprakash to Surrey.

Shah had suffered more than most in the shadow of the intense Ramprakash and one of the first tasks facing the new management team of coach John Emburey and captain Angus Fraser was to restore faith and confidence in the youngsters.

So far, their plan to give youth a chance and create a happier environment is working like a dream.

Emburey said: "We all knew Owais had a lot of difficulties before, but he started with a clean slate. He is his own man and we've given him a little bit of space. It's done him a world of good.

"He is a bit shy, which is why he won't do any interviews. Also, he doesn't want to put pressure on himself so he's letting his bat do the talking." Very eloquently it is speaking, too. The turning point seems to have been a winter trip to Perth to play grade cricket for University of Western Australia, fixed up by former captain Justin Langer.

Emburey added: "He had some very good one-on-one coaching with their coach, Wayne Andrews. It got him focused, and playing with and against Australians through the winter toughened him up considerably. He came back a more mature person.

"He said he'd like to bat at No3 and that was fine by us. Owais wanted to take on that extra responsibility and has done it really well.

"He's got runs, big runs, in every match, he's playing straighter and his shot selection is better.

"We have not sat on him, but have let him express himself. We like to involve him and all the other players who are all encouraged to express their ideas. It all started for Owais at the start of May with a brilliant 118 not out in a Benson and Hedges Cup tie against Hampshire.

"Then he hit a good 57 on a slow wicket at Bristol, followed by the big 190 at Chester-le-Street.

"He ended the month with that double century at Southgate.

"Shah was very watchful and patient and there wasn't a single rash shot or false stroke. It's just so enjoyable watching him bat and there's a lot more stored in his locker."

Most cricket sages think it is only a matter of time before Shah is plunged into the Test arena.

The final irony would be if he was to earn himself an England contract at the expense of his hero Ramprakash, who felt that he had to leave Middlesex to further his Test career.