Shah sets sights on Ashes

Middlesex batsman set to go up against his county colleagues

Last updated: 17th September 2008

Shah sets sights on Ashes

Shah: Setting his sights on facing the Australians

Playing against my county team-mates will be very weird. They know my game well but it should be good fun

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Owais Shah insists he is focusing on playing his way into England's Test side rather than the money on offer in the Stanford Super Series.

The Middlesex batsman will be part of the England squad for the money-spinning match against the Stanford All-Stars on November 1 in Antigua.

Shah has become a fixture in the limited overs set-up but is still hoping for another chance in the Test arena having won just two caps.

With a home series against Australia on the horizon, the right-hander admits he would love the opportunity to go up against the best side in the world.

Focus

"I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't love to win the Stanford game - the money is huge," Shah said in an interview with The Sun newspaper.

"But thinking about it is not my style - I focus solely on the cricket. And I see the prize as a bonus, if we don't win, we still haven't lost the money.

"I wouldn't say a run in the Test side is around the corner but it remains my focus.

"I am desperate to play regularly in both forms of the game - that's what I set out to do as a youngster. And yes, playing in the Ashes would be special. You want to challenge yourself against the best."

For now Shah will have to concentrate on trying to help England to victory in the richest cricket match in the world, with the players from the winning team netting a remarkable $1 million each.

Even if he had not been picked by his country the 29-year-old would still have been heading to the Caribbean as part of the Middlesex squad that is also taking part in the series.

Conflict

The domestic Twenty20 champions will take on the Stanford All-Stars, England and then Trinidad & Tobago in their own winner-takes-all showdown.

Shah admits it will be "very weird" going up against his county colleagues having helped the Crusaders to glory on finals day at The Rose Bowl.

"I did enquire about playing for Middlesex in the games that didn't involve England but they said no," he added.

"Playing against my county team-mates will be very weird. They know my game well but it should be good fun."