TAWHID QURESHI - INTERVIEW: Thoughtful and relentlessly positive, Azhar has enabled Surrey's talented bowlers to reach even greater heights
There are several theories to explain Surrey's best start to a season for over 50 years: a healthy balance sheet, a squad brimming with international caps, and a promising group of youngsters among them.
The role of former Pakistan allrounder turned assistant coach Azhar Mahmood has been no less significant. Thoughtful and relentlessly positive, he's enabled Surrey's talented bowlers to reach even greater heights.
Worryingly for their opponents, Azhar believes Surrey have yet to peak.
"We haven't played our best cricket yet and there is always room for improvement" he tells The Cricketer during a brief gap in a gruelling fixture schedule.
Azhar's return to Surrey at the beginning of the season consolidated the link between the team of today and the version from the early 2000s.
Azhar Mahmood speaks with Surrey interim head coach Gareth Batty [Getty Images]
"We had some massive names in that team and amazing match winners; Alec Stewart, Graham Thorpe, Mark Ramprakash, Saqlain Mushtaq and the Hollioake brothers. Jimmy Ormond also had a brilliant season in 2003".
Not that Azhar is about to be drawn into making too many comparisons between the two generations.
"Back then it was very different,” he says.
"We used to think that scoring 150 would be a winning score. Also we didn't have the luxury of detailed analysis on match-ups, which is very important in the modern game".
He does concede that the crop of youngsters in the current Surrey side, are better than those of yesteryear, though.
"The likes of Gus Atkinson and Conor McKerr are hugely exciting youngsters, and they are grabbing the opportunities that come their way."
Surrey's approach to recruitment has frequently attracted criticism. The perception is that they have assembled a team of expensive galacticos, which continues to annoy many. Azhar, however, only sees the benefits of a dressing room crammed with superstars, rubbing shoulders with younger squad members.
"Sunil Narine and Kieron Pollard have had a great influence on the youngsters, they have so much experience of playing cricket all around the world. They don't always say much but when they do speak, everyone listens".
Azhar has had a positive impact on the Surrey coaching team [Getty Images]
Although he's taken the field alongside some of the players who are now his charges, he insists that the transition from player to coach "was simple".
Azhar's biggest achievement in his coaching role at Surrey to date has been the rejuvenation of Jamie Overton, resulting in the bowler's Test debut for England against New Zealand at Headingley.
Azhar agrees that Overton had a "difficult season last year", which resulted in a meagre return of just six County Championship wickets.
The benefits of a shortened run-up and more energy in his delivery stride have been widely documented, but Azhar stresses that the run-up was only one piece of the puzzle.
"Yes, the run-up is important but for things to work well, everything needs to be in sync: the run up, the way he drives through the crease, the front arm, hip rotation and the release point. I've worked with Jamie O on all of those things, and it's resulted in not just more pace but consistency too".
Azhar hints that instilling an optimistic outlook in a curiously self-doubting Overton was as important as the technical changes, and credits mutual trust for helping the pair forge a productive working relationship.
"It has been all about having that positive mindset with the bat or the ball and always having a positive intent with everything that he does."
Azhar on England duty in 2020, he would be interested in a return in the future [Getty Images]
A former Pakistan bowling coach, Azhar wants to make a return to international coaching in the future.
"As a player you always want to play at the highest level, which is international cricket, it's the same as a coach," he says. "But I was delighted to be offered the role at Surrey, I live in Surrey and am part of the Surrey family, so it felt natural to go back there.
"I am loving working with Gareth (Batty) and Alec (Stewart) as the club is in a great place right now with some phenomenal young talent and some experienced members of the team like Hashim (Amla), Rory (Burns) and Sunil."
When the topic of a potential future role with England is raised, particularly in the context of the upcoming tours to Pakistan, Azhar says he would "love to be involved with England at some point".
On recent form, he would be a very astute addition.
Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.