England seamer Saqib Mahmood is "desperate" to be back in action in time to play against Australia in next year's Ashes as he continues his recovery from a stress fracture of the back.
Mahmood made his Test debut against the West Indies in March and impressed, taking six wickets at an average of 22.83 in his two appearances. However, the 25-year-old suffered a major setback when he was ruled out for the entire summer after playing just one County Championship game for Lancashire.
He has so far missed five months of cricket and has opened up about feeling "very, very frustrated" in the early weeks of his rehabilitation.
Mahmood told BBC Sport : "The first week or two you crack on a little bit but then you're doing the same thing over and over again. I was literally doing every session on my own for five weeks. It was hard work."
While it was difficult watching England's stunning Test revival under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum from the sidelines, Mahmood joined up with the squad for the second Test against South Africa at Old Trafford last month.
"I just gave Stokesy a text and said, 'Hi mate I have been told you want me around for the Test match?" he added. "He just put, 'Absolutely, mate. Love to have you around the group, bro'.
"The dressing room environment is something I haven't been in for months. Even after a day's play when everyone is just chatting, it was actually very worthwhile for me to do that because it still makes me feel involved in the group.
"When you are injured it is so easy to think everyone has forgotten about you. You see how the game was played, how everyone went about it, it made me want to get back fit and get in this team.
"That was my mindset. Those two days added to my drive to get back into this team and playing at that level.
"I am thinking about getting wickets in the Ashes next year. That is something I am desperate to be a part of."
