Having originally been content to make a name for himself in white-ball cricket, fast bowler Haris Rauf has expressed his desire to play Test cricket for Pakistan after finding himself in the 29-man squad set to tour England later this year.
Rauf was a great hit at the Big Bash League (BBL), picking up 20 wickets in 10 matches for the Melbourne Stars. He hasn't reached the same heights in first-class cricket, with only 74 overs to his name since he made his debut in September 2019, but Pakistan have a history of trusting a player's potential. The most recent example of that is Naseem Shah, who repaid the faith and became the youngest bowler ever to pick up a Test-match hat-trick.
From playing grade cricket in Tasmania, to replacing Dale Steyn in the BBL, to winning a Pakistan central contract, Rauf has had a meteoric rise. But until now, he has never really been tempted to give red-ball cricket a proper go. "I made my mind properly that I am going to play Test at any cost," he said in a video conference. "I am putting all my efforts to earn it. I am all in for it. I not only ready but very much excited to take a lot out of this [England] tour. Whatever I will get, I will make most out of it.
"The way I got a start in white-ball cricket, I wish to make a name for myself in red-ball cricket. It's a long tour and big opportunity for me," Rauf said. "I have done well in T20 cricket but now I want to look beyond that. I know I haven't got experience under my belt, and played three first-class matches only, but I know how to bowl longer spells. In Australia, playing premier club cricket, I did play four-day games so I have an idea of what it takes."
Rauf was discovered by Lahore Qalandars head coach Aqib Javed at a fast bowling trial in Gujranwala. Now, he is honing his skills under the tutelage of Pakistan's bowling coach Waqar Younis. He has been enjoying the step-up.
"Aqib had skills and he shared and guided me all the way," Rauf said. "But then you move on to the next level and find new coaches and they share their experiences and help accordingly. I worked with Waqar Younis in the nets session during the Bangladesh series; I learnt several new things and going forward, I am sure this learning phase will continue. I have weaknesses but I have skill as well and you have to enhance it every day.
"There were things - using the crease and reverse yorkers - that I didn't know about but Waqar bhai helped me. The process of how to bowl those yorkers and the control he had, I'll never able to have that control ever. So I am asking a lot of questions and working with him; learning all these new things is very exciting. This will only be an advantage for me in international cricket."
Rauf's last match was in the PSL in March. He picked up an ankle injury there and has since been on the sidelines thanks to the Covid-19 pandemic. During the enforced off season, though, the 26-year-old has been making sure his body can handle the stress of bowling at 150kph.
"I always try to maintain my pace in the 144-145 kph mark," Rauf said. "So my training is mainly focused on being consistent with it rather than thinking about bowling my fastest delivery. With a smooth rhythm, any day it can go beyond that as well. All I am doing is to have an optimum fitness level so I don't have to worry about this aspect. If you have good fitness, you definitely can maintain your pace. This England tour is the best chance for me to further prove myself and do my best for the team there.
"In the last two months, I have worked extensively on my weaker muscles to make them strong. Injury, I know as a fast bowler, it can come anywhere, anytime and it is part and parcel of the game. In England and Australia, grounds are relatively softer than in Pakistan, so it's a slight problem but then you work on your fitness and make sure you get your bases covered. I remember in a video session with Wasim Akram, he guided us that we have to strengthen our hamstring and lower back [if you are touring England] because these are the muscles most likely to pick up injuries there."