Watch: Rehan Ahmed, an 18-year-old leg-spinner who has been added to the England Test squad for their three-match series in Pakistan, claimed his maiden County Championship five-for in September.
The precocious wrist-spinner will be England’s youngest-ever men’s Test cricketer if he plays against Pakistan, breaking the record of Brian Close, which has stood for 73 years.
Ahmed was not initially picked in the Test squad to face Pakistan, but was included in the Lions squad that is currently playing a warm-up game against England in Abu Dhabi. There were reports that he could be added to the full squad, with Brendon McCullum giving him the news at tea on day one of the practice fixture.
Ahmed struggled against the main England side, sending down eight wicketless overs for 73 runs as Ollie Pope’s century founded a total in excess of 500. His first-class experience is also limited, with the teenager having only three caps to his name. He has more experience in white-ball cricket.
However, the most recent of those offers evidence as to why England rate him so highly. In the County Championship, he claimed 5-101 for Leicestershire, his maiden first-class five-for, before blitzing 122 at better than a run a ball to showcase his all-round skill-set.
The wicket which completed his five-for was particularly delightful, a dipping googly which spun through the bat-pad gap of the onrushing Nick Potts to hit the stumps.
Watch the Rehan Ahmed five-for below:
Rehan Ahmed's maiden first-class five wicket-haul ✋
He followed it up in the same match with his first century, too 😏#LVCountyChamp pic.twitter.com/Pd2eTf7uVH
— Vitality County Championship (@CountyChamp) October 6, 2022
