He has gained an increasing reputation in Pakistani for quick bowling, eventually leading to selection for the international squad for the February 2009 test series against Sri Lanka.
Alongside a fellow young pace newcomer Mohammad Aamer, he gained his first ten-wicket haul against Pakistan Customs side, taking 10 for 119 in the match.
[2] He worked extensively with Aaqib Javaid at the National Cricket Academy based in Karachi, where he slightly re-modified his action to avoid persistent injuries.
Javaid said of Talha that he believed him to be close to national team selection and that he was the fastest bowler in Pakistan after Shoaib Akhtar.
He has said that, like many young Pakistani bowlers of the current era, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis were his cricketing idols whilst growing up and also added that Brett Lee was also someone he tried to learn from.