Azhar Mahmood is a mentally tough allrounder and belligerent batsman, who began his career with three Test centuries against South Africa. In one-day cricket he invariably raises the tempo in the lower middle-order. He is strong off his legs and relishes short bowling.

But he pushes at the ball too firmly in defence, and is particularly vulnerable against legspin. In a team of reverse-swingers he is the only English-type seamer, virtuous in his pursuit of line and length. He is a useful fielder and, close in, he rarely misses an opportunity to enquire about the batsman's health. During a one-month stint as a Surrey overseas player in 2002 he took 8 for 61 against Lancashire, then turned out for them for two seasons full-time as Pakistan's mercurial lost faith in him for reasons that have never quite been made clear. He signed with Surrey again for 2005.