Austin was called up to make his England debut in his 13th season in the game when Mark Ealham withdrew from the international party because of injury.
And England captain Alec Stewart was pleased with the Lancashire all-rounder's performance. ``He did extremely well on his debut and fitted in well with the team,'' said Stewart.
Austin, 32, could be forgiven for despairing of ever winning national recognition. His county captain, Wasim Akram, felt that the selectors were wrong to overlook Austin and suggested it was partly on the grounds of the player's 14.5-stone bulk.
It took him several seasons to establish himself as a regular at Old Trafford but now he is an integral part of Lancashire's drive to beat Derbyshire in the Trophy final at Lord's in September.
Austin's economical bowling was largely instrumental in Lancashire's wins over Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire and Hampshire in the earlier rounds of the NatWest and Wasim believes Austin has run into just the kind of form to justify an England selection.
Unkindly described at the weekend by one critic as ``the man who put the round into all-rounder'', Austin's record of appearances for his club would put many other professionals to shame.
He missed one game last summer and this time a collision with fellow Lancashire fielder Richard Green at the start of the season prevented him playing in two matches.
Green, who was already on the field against Yorkshire at Headingley on Saturday as substitute for Wasim, was allowed under rules governing international call-ups to take a full part in the rest of the game.
There is a precedent for this which also involves Lancashire. Warwickshire were the visitors in a game at Southport in the early Eighties when Gladstone Small was summoned to Edgbaston on the first day because Graham Dilley was a doubtful Test starter for England.
David Brown replaced Small in the county match and took a wicket. Because Dilley was adjudged to be fit, Small was not needed for the Test and went back to Southport, swapped places with Brown and resumed the game.
Javed Miandad, a veteran of six World Cups, was yesterday appointed coach of the Pakistan cricket team while opening batsman Aamir Sohail has been named captain for the forthcoming Sahara Cup.
Miandad, now 41, re-entered the cricket arena after announcing his retirement following his last appearance against India in the 1996 World Cup.
Pakistan Cricket Board officials said the experience of Miandad would bolster the team, who leave next month for five one-day matches in the Sahara Cup from Sept 12-20. Sohail, who was banned last year for two months on disciplinary grounds, replaces wicketkeeper Rashid Latif as Pakistan's captain.