England have called up Rehan Ahmed for their 2025 Champions Trophy squad after Brydon Carse was ruled out due to an injury.
A toe injury cut short Carse’s tournament, with the quick first experiencing pain in his left foot, days after needing stitches for a blister. Carse, who finished with 1-69 in seven overs during Australia’s historic run chase on Saturday, has been replaced by Rehan Ahmed in the side.
Why have England recalled Rehan Ahmed?
Leg-spinner Rehan has played six ODIs and was recently with the ODI squad in India. He has taken 10 wickets in the format at an average of 23.30 and his selection will strengthen the spin attack that has hinged around Adil Rashid. Apart from him, England only had part-time spinners Liam Livingstone and Joe Root in the squad.
On the other hand, they have pace back-ups in the squad, with Jamie Overton, and Saqib Mahmood in the reserves alongside Mark Wood, Jofra Archer and Gus Atkinson.
England decided to strengthen their spin bowling attack, also given the support the slower bowlers received against Australia even when the pacers were being hit for runs. Australia chased down the target of 352 in Lahore in just 47.3 overs, with England’s pacers giving away 226 runs in 26.3 overs at an economy rate of 8.52. The spinners collectively gave away just 5.71 runs per over, with Rashid’s figures reading 1-47. Livingstone conceded 47 runs in his seven overs while Root gave 26 in four.
Overall, the spinners have also had a bigger role to play in this year’s Champions Trophy. In all games in Pakistan, the spinners have taken 19 wickets whilst conceding just 5.56 runs an over in four matches, while the quicker bowlers have been slightly more expensive, bowling with an economy rate of 6.03.
The commentators have also suggested that the presence of dew has been irregular in this tournament. On days when the ground is drier, the spinners will get more purchase even at night.
Rehan will also be useful against India in Dubai if the two teams play in this competition. Dubai, the venue for all of India’s games, has had plenty of assistance for the slower bowlers, with India playing three regular spinners in both games so far. With India’s batting struggling against spin of late too, a spin-heavy bowling attack could pose trouble.
Updated England squad for Champions Trophy 2025
Ben Duckett, Phil Salt (wk), Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk), Harry Brook, Jos Buttler (c), Liam Livingstone, Jamie Overton, Tom Banton, Adil Rashid, Rehan Ahmed, Gus Atkinson, Mark Wood, Jofra Archer, Saqib Mahmood.
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