A decade ago, Mohammad Abbas was back at home in Pakistan, assisting lawyers in setting up lawsuits over real estate. The idea that he would one day claim the best figures by an Asian fast bowler at Lord’s - the citadel of English cricket - would have been the stuff of fantasy.

Yet here he is, preparing for tomorrow's second Test at Headingley, with a historic series victory over England within reach, and a new legion of admirers queuing to pay him compliments. The days of his menial court duties - and, before that, working as a welder and in a leather factory - must seem very long ago.

“My life before cricket was very challenging but those struggles helped me in cricket because when I came into the sport I had become mature enough to deal with the problems,” Abbas, 28, told The Telegraph. “After the welding and leather factory, I was an office boy in a court, registering documents for cases related to property.

“When I was working at the court I got selected for district under-19 cricket. They asked me to choose between job or cricket. I cannot forget that night. But a friend, who was a lawyer too, made a case of doing both things together.”