Hassan Ali: ‘Wasim Akram told me to play county cricket. Finally I’m here ’

It is the first morning of Lancashire’s County Championship game against Essex. Outside the Old Trafford pavilion, England’s highest wicket-taker is handing over a county cap. “I know you expected a bit more grass,” he says. “But sorry, maybe next time.”

Hassan Ali’s Manchester spring has been a triumph. Living in Old Trafford’s Hilton hotel with his wife, Samiya Arzoo, and one-year-old daughter, Halena, he has been a model professional, on and off the pitch. One of nine Pakistan players lighting up the early rounds of the Championship, available because they are frozen out by the IPL, Hassan has slotted into the Lancashire bowling attack, adding fire to their finesse, running in alongside Saqib Mahmood (before the stress fracture that ruled him out for the season), Matt Parkinson and, of course, Jimmy Anderson.

With 74 wickets in his 19 Tests, at 23.60, and superb white-ball skills, Hassan had previously turned down offers from Leicestershire, Surrey, Kent and Gloucestershire, as they had wanted a full season of toil. But Lancashire were prepared to sign a contract just for the opening set of six games. He jumped at the chance. And Anderson was one of Old Trafford’s main pull factors.

Hassan outbowled him, when Anderson returned after the longest break of his career, against Gloucestershire, grabbing nine wickets, including a potential ball of the season to shatter James Bracey’s stump in two with a yorker. His joy at bowling, and in particularly bowling alongside Anderson, sings from every pore, even in his pump down, pump up celebration.

“At my stage, there is a lot of things still to learn,” Hassan says. “When I heard I was going to play for Lancashire, the first thing that came into my mind was Jimmy Anderson. I