Rehan Ahmed took two wickets on his England Test debut in Karachi
(Picture: AP)In the last three months, Rehan Ahmed has won the league and cup double for his boyhood side Cavaliers and Carrington in Nottingham, claimed his maiden first-class century and five-wicket haul for Leicestershire and now debuted for England. Club, county and country.
Today, with two wickets and an excellent controlled spell of bowling after lunch, Ahmed proved that England’s punt on potential wasn’t misplaced, as the giddy teenager performed on the stage he knew he belonged on, whilst in disbelief that it was actually happening.
“It’s the best feeling of my life,” Ahmed said of the emotion that had been wrapped up in the day. “So I can’t complain,” he added, in one of the greater understatements you’re ever likely to hear.
It is all roses for Ahmed. He describes his boyhood club Cavaliers as “the Manchester United of cricket, the best club in England”, and this England team as “the best Test team that’s ever played”. Whilst those opinions may be subjective, what is fact is that Ahmed has become the youngest man to ever play Test cricket for England.
What is most exciting for England is they, nor Ahmed, really know what he is. Is he a batter who bowls? Or a bowler who bats? Ahmed himself is reluctant to say he is better at one or the other, a party line that prevents him from being pigeon-holed into either role whilst ensuring he continues to work on both in equal measure.
What England do know, however, is that Ahmed is capable of doing things on a cricket pitch that others can’t. Ben Stokes has described Ahmed as someone who almost “shows off” with the bat, whilst Ahmed’s googly, after just one day, is already a signature of his.
“I mean, I just tried to put as much spin on it both ways and just hope he nicks it,” was Ahmed’s simplistic response to the excellent two-ball combination that saw him claim his first maiden in Test cricket. First, a big ripping googly that beat the left-handed Saud Shakeel on his outside edge, before a fizzing leg break took the inside edge and was caught by Harry Brook at short leg.
“I've been bowling at left-handers all my life as my brother's left-handed,” explained Ahmed of the method that has served him so well for so long, “and I used the tactic I used against him. Googly, then leg-spinner and it worked.”
As the old saying goes, if it works in the garden, it’ll also work in Test cricket. The result is a player who has already exhibited that his ceiling is higher than the rest. He will produce moments of magic, and England trust that over time he will be able to build the foundations to support it.
“I couldn’t ask for more,” Ahmed said. “It's the biggest blessing sent down to me, to play so much cricket at a young age.”
Talking to Sky Sports after the game, Ahmed admitted that he had failed to sleep the night before his debut and that he hadn’t expected to play on the tour, instead focusing on developing as a player by training with the best of the business.
“The pride you must have in your heart this week watching your 18 year old son playing cricket in the National Stadium, Karachi, is incomparable.” ❤️
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) December 17, 2022
A very special presentation of Test cap 710 🧢
🇵🇰 #PAKvENG 🏴 pic.twitter.com/YKPMFThXGF
Ahmed’s father and elder brother are also out on tour. And in an emotional presentation, former England skipper Nasser Hussain handed over Ahmed’s cap with a firm handshake before his dad, Naeem, gave him an even firmer hug. It was a special moment that started a day that was still to get better.
“My family has put in a lot of hard work to get me to where I am,” Ahmed said. “My dad’s been huge in getting me here. He’s backed me all the way.”
Of added poignancy was that Ahmed was debuting in the country of his father’s birth. And through coincidence was briefly a club-mate of Pakistan’s head coach Saqlain Mushtaq at Cavaliers.
“It’s a great point of pride that so many Pakistanis are playing for other countries,” Mushtaq said at the close of play. “Rehan bowled very well today. The way he bowled certain deliveries to Babar [Azam] and all of the Pakistan batters makes me think there’s something about him.
“I see a bright future ahead for him. He plays for England, but his Pakistani roots make me very proud.”
