SAJID Mahmood has had a wonderful 12 months - but that has not stopped the Lancashire bowler from setting his sights even higher.

The 22-year-old Boltonian has made the step up from local league cricket to the England A side in remarkably quick time.

Sajid made his breakthrough into Lancashire's first team as they came within a whisker of winning the County Championship last season.

He was also selected for the England Academy squad, which trained at Loughborough last winter, before shining on the A tour to India and Malaysia.

And now he is aiming to continue his rise, while helping his county in the chase for honours.

"My aim this season is to play more regularly for the first team," he said.

"I'm aiming for 60 to 70 wickets. Some people will say that's a big target - but if you don't set big targets, then you're not going to strive to reach them."

It is comments like these, delivered in Sajid's softly-spoken manner, which indicate his determination to succeed.

He was playing in the Bolton League two years ago, having switched from his home club Astley Bridge to spend one season at Egerton.

"My dad, Shahid, used to play in one of the local leagues, and I would go along to watch when I was about six or seven," Sajid said.

"My interest grew from there. I started playing for Astley Bridge when I was 11, and got into the first team when I was 16.

"I used to get a wicket here and there, although I wasn't picking up lots of wickets. But the standards were pretty good in the Bolton League, and they still are - when the rain doesn't get in the way!"

One of the biggest tests Sajid remembers from his Bolton League days was facing Pakistan Test bowler Fazl-e-Akbar, then with Kearsley.

"I was only 17 or 18 at the time. I just remember telling myself to try to slog everything - and it seemed to work!"

While playing in the Bolton League, Sajid had also been part of the Lancashire set-up from the age of 16, working his way up through the junior sides to become a regular in the reserve team.

But his big chance came when Lancashire cricket manager Mike Watkinson signed him up full-time at the start of last season.

Sajid said: "When you step up to first-class cricket, you've got to concentrate all the time. Lower down, you can get away with the odd lapse, but you've got to have much more mental strength at this level."

Watkinson believes that Sajid has the potential, but added that he is not yet the finished article.

"We had tremendous reports about Saj while he was away on the England A tour. He played a few games for us last season, and perhaps ran out of steam, but we couldn't give him a break at the time, because of the size of the squad.

"Saj improved while he was away; he's become more consistent with his run-up. He has the pace which can complement our seam bowlers.

"We're hoping he can be like James Anderson was when he came on to the scene."

It is inevitable that Sajid will be compared to Anderson, given that both came from a local league cricket background to impress at county level before winning international honours.

"I do look to James Anderson as an inspiration to a certain extent," Sajid said. "He's come out of nowhere, played a handful of games at county level, and then done really well in the England side."

Sajid is an emerging sporting talent, but he is not the only one in his family. His cousin is Amir Khan, the boxer from Heaton, who has just qualified for this summer's Olympics.

"He's doing really well, and I'm really pleased for him," Sajid said. "We're great mates, even though we don't get to see each other that much, because he's always away and so am I.

"I think he can make a name for himself as a boxer. You've got to have something about you to qualify for the Olympics at the age of 17."

His younger cousin's boxing achievements have given Sajid a feeling of immense pride, and the cricketer admits that he has international ambitions of his own.

"My dream is to play for England," he said. "I hope that I get that chance. If I do, I want to grab it with both hands."

If Sajid Mahmood continues to show the quiet determination that has got him this far, the Test cricket world had better watch out.