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.
