By Jeremy Horne
September 30 2002

During the match against Derbyshire at Lords this year, David and I took a few minutes to speak with Owais Shah about the season and prospects for the winter. David Slater: Do you think you still stand a chance of making the world cup squad?

Owais Shah: You’ve gotta be tight I think. Obviously, Graham Thorpe has not really decided what he’s going to do, so if there’s an opportunity- if he doesn’t go- there might be a chance for a batsman to be picked. Hopefully, if they do go for a batsman, it’ll be me, but I’m sure there are other contenders in the country, so it’s all up in the air a little bit. I think it’s too early to say whether I will be picked in the world cup squad or not.

DS: Do you think you stand a chance of making the ashes squad? Obviously you’ve been in fine form in the county games lately.

OS: Again, I’d say it’s early to say. Obviously England have got their batters, who are playing, performing at the moment. It just depends on maybe injuries and guys who don’t decide to tour, and if the selectors think I’m good enough at test level then yeah, I don’t see why not, but again I think it’s too early to say whether I will get picked or not.

* David Nash comes over to join us *

DS: Whom would you like to see as Middlesex’s overseas players next year?

OS: I think Ashley Noffke has done well for us when he’s played and Abdur Razzaq has done well when he’s played, so I suppose both those guys.

David Nash: What about Dipek Patel?!

OS: Dipek Patel, he hasn’t actually featured this year, but them two have done very well this year, so I don’t see why we can’t go with those two.

Jeremy Horne: Who is the joker in the Middlesex dressing room?

OS: David Nash is very close to that, Phil Tufnell has got his moments, but I think those two are the main ones.

JH: Have you got any amusing stories?

OS: Amusing stories, um… Watching Angus Fraser getting his hair shaved by David Nash last year because he be him that he would shave his head if he got a hundred and it was quite pleasing to watch actually, watching his hair come off.

JH: Ok, thanks a lot.

Next week: Simon Cook reveals all about Chad Keegan's haircut plans for next season!