Journeyman can rouse sleeping giants

By Scott Heinrich

I have had discussions with Steve Rixon and he is speaking my language Akram on Surrey's coach

A former international cricketer he may be, but Mohammad Akram was not county cricket's most headline-grabbing signing of the off-season.

Even at his new club Surrey, the Pakistani paceman's transfer from Sussex was something of an aside to the coup acquisition of India spinner Harbhajan Singh.

Akram, who is classed as an English player after completing a two-year residency qualification, will be at his third county in three years following spells at Essex and Sussex.

But the 30-year-old journeyman is seen by coach Steve Rixon as the type of steely performer Surrey need to get back on the glory trail.

Last season, Rixon's first in charge, saw Surrey fail to secure any of the four major trophies for the first time since 1998.

And when Akram made it known he wanted to move to London for family reasons, management at The Oval snapped him up on a three-year deal.

"I'm very happy to be at Surrey," Akram tells BBC Sport.

Akram is an experienced campaigner who can benefit Surrey

"They have got the best history of any county in England and I hope I can help to get them back to the top where they belong."

Akram, a right-arm workhorse who can gain marked movement off the seam, played nine Tests and 23 one-dayers for Pakistan between 1995 and 2001.

The unmovable figures of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis meant he failed to cement a place.

But Akram's credentials at first-class level have always stood close inspection, as 324 wickets at an average of 27.4 attests.

He expects to make his Surrey debut against Sussex on the opening day of the Championship season.

But he has competition from countryman Azhar Mahmood, veterans Martin Bicknell and James Ormond, and emerging homegrown pacemen Tim Murtagh and Phillip Sampson.

"I'm confident I will get a place in the first team straight away," he says.

"I have had discussions with Steve Rixon about what he wants from me and they have gone very well.

"He is speaking my language."

Surrey have a very good squad and can push for any title they go for Mohammad Akram

On top of Rixon's appointment ahead of last year's campaign, Surrey also had a new skipper in the form of Jon Batty - factors Akram attributes to the club's potless season.

The 2002 county champions still finished strongly to grab third place, and with the captaincy now going to club stalwart Mark Butcher, Akram is predicting vast improvement.

"It was just one of those seasons. You change the captain and change the coach and it takes time," he reasons.

"But in the end they did quite well even with the changes that took place.

"I think Surrey can do it again and get back to where they were a couple of seasons ago.

"Surrey have a very good squad and can push for any title they go for."

Rixon, a former coach of New Zealand and Australian state side New South Wales, is a reputed taskmaster who arranged for Surrey's pre-season to start earlier than normal.

"We are all professionals and it is normal for everyone to want to do well," says Akram, who welcomes Rixon's no-nonsense approach.

"I have played under a few coaches now and they all want the same thing, for you to give 100% and I think that's very fair.

"Steve knows how to get his messages across, but he is like any other coach in the world in that nothing silly will be said to you if you are trying your best."

Akram may not be the most glamorous player doing the rounds, but Rixon and Surrey can be sure he will always give his best.