18 years and 126 days old.
England leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed will make his international debut against Pakistan in Karachi this week, becoming the nation’s youngest Test cricketer.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, England captain Ben Stokes confirmed that the teenager would replace Will Jacks in the starting XI for the third and final Test, which gets underway on Saturday.
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“I think it’s a good opportunity for us to not only look at him but for him to come in and experience what it’s like to play international cricket,” Stokes said.
“It’s exciting times for Rehan especially, and he was very excited when we gave him the nod that he was going to play last night.
“He’s got a vast array of shots. And obviously a wrist-spinner is great to be able to have in your team, especially in these conditions.
“We’ve taken a look at the wicket as well, which looks very dry, I personally think it might spin a bit more than it did in the last Test match.”
Ahmed, originally due to travel to Pakistan as a net bowler, was drafted into the Test squad in the eleventh hour despite playing just three first-class matches before the tour.
The young all-rounder, who grew up in Nottingham, made his County Championship debut for Leicestershire in May, turning heads a few months later by scoring 122 and taking 5/114 in the same match against Derbyshire.
He also enjoyed a successful T20 Blast campaign with Leicestershire, snaring 19 wickets at 20.15 in 14 matches.
“Rehan is an absolute wizard,” England Under-19 teammate James Rew told foxsports.com.au.
“He loves getting stuck in in the nets … when he gets you out in the nets, he’ll definitely celebrate his wickets.
“He’s a great character to have around, brings so much energy to the team.”
Ahmed will become England’s youngest men’s Test cricketer, a record previously held by all-rounder Brian Close, who was 18 years and 149 days old when he made his debut against New Zealand at Manchester in 1949.
The tweaker was born in August 2004, more than 12 months after James Anderson’s Test debut.
Ahmed represented England at this year’s Under-19 Cricket World Cup in the West Indies, taking 12 scalps in four matches to finish as the tournament’s sixth-highest wicket-taker.
In the semi-final against Afghanistan, he took three wickets in the penultimate over to help England secure a 15-run victory and book their spot in the final.
Ahmed has taken 24 wickets in 13 one-day matches for England’s Under-19 side, boasting an economy rate of 3.87.
“When he’s on your team, he’s an unbelievable player to have,” Rew said.
“He’ll make things happen. He definitely, definitely turns up in the big situations.”
Ahmed’s most dangerous weapon is undeniably his googly — six years ago, he dismissed England captains Ben Stokes and Alastair Cook with the mystery ball during a net session at Lord’s when he was 11.
“Every ball he bowls looks like his googly … and then his leggie’s actually harder to pick,” Rew explained.
“He gets a lot of wickets LBW bowling that googly, so that’s his danger ball.”
The following summer, Ahmed was mentored by the late Shane Warne in a net session, with footage of their encounter going viral last month.
“I’m going to keep a close eye on you,” the Australian cricket legend said in the clip.
“I think we’ll be commentating on you very soon.
“I think you could be playing first-class cricket by the age of 15.”
Warne’s prediction wasn’t far off — Ahmed made his List A debut for Leicestershire as a 16-year-old.
Despite only bowling 446 deliveries in first-class cricket to date, Ahmed will be plying his trade at Test level this week.
“I say to every captain I play for — I’m always ready,” he told reporters in October.
“If you want me at the death, if you want me to open the bowling, I’m ready to do it.”
The third Test between Pakistan and England gets underway at Karachi National Stadium on Saturday, with the first ball scheduled for 4pm AEDT.
