LEGENDARY Pakistan fast bowler Waqar Younis believes Josh Shaw has all the tools to ensure he is a key part of Yorkshire’s drive for success over the next few years.

Waqar had his first glimpse of the young White Rose quick at the Abu Dhabi T20 competition at the start of this month and liked what he saw.

As Shaw bowled an impressive, yet wicketless, four-over spell in a defeat to Lahore Qalandars, Waqar and TV co-commentator Brad Hogg talked him up, praising his strong action and attitude.

Afterwards, Waqar spoke to yorkshireccc.com about the 22-year-old’s progression.

“I had not seen him beforehand, so it was something surprising for me - in a good way,” said the ex-Pakistan skipper, who took 789 Test and ODI wickets between 1989 and 2003.

“I always look for young talent, and I felt when he was running in he was all energy, pumped up, and he’s got really good pace and a very strong action.

“I look for those small things in youngsters when I’m thinking ‘Has he got the potential and talent?’ On first look, Josh Shaw definitely has things to work with.

“Coming in from England to bowling in the heat in this part of the world, he was really rushing the batsmen. That’s what impressed me, and that’s why I spoke about him.

“There are a few things you notice. The run up is key, which was good and smooth, and then you want to be strong at the crease, which he was.”

Waqar played county cricket for Glamorgan, Surrey and Warwickshire, taking 18 wickets in eleven appearances against Yorkshire across all forms.

“They play a lot of cricket in a county summer, and it’s maybe a good thing to limit the number of first-class games he plays,” he continued.

“If you want to develop him into a bowler that can play for England, you can maybe limit him to playing around half a season and obviously supplement that with the one-day competitions. From there, he will get fitter and stronger.

“Headingley is a great place to bowl at and improve your game. It always does something for the bowlers, swing and seam. I loved bowling there.

“I will certainly keep an eye out for him and look forward to seeing how he progresses.”

Waqar took 10 wickets in two Test Matches at Headingley in 1992 and 1996, added to a career best 7-36 in an ODI in 2001 when he was captain.

He added: “We won a Test Match there in 1996, and I had my best one-day performance when I took seven-for against England in a shortened game a few years later.

“I captained that game, and it was part of a tri-series with Australia, who we ended up losing to in the final at Lord’s.

“I had a really good few days because I took seven-for against England at Headingley on the Sunday and then six against Australia at Trent Bridge on the Tuesday.”

Shaw, meanwhile, played three of his 24 first-class matches to date in 2018, with County Championship games against Nottinghamshire and Surrey in April and May and Somerset in late August, taking four wickets.

He has taken 59 first-class wickets to date, 47 of them coming across two loan spells with Gloucestershire in 2016 and 2017.