As a 20-year-old, England’s red-hot leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed has given himself credentials to quickly become the Three Lions most exciting cricketer. He has recently become the nation’s youngest male player to be capped in all three formats. Ahmed’s remarkable performance during Leicestershire’s County Championship match against Derbyshire showcased his dual capabilities as both a bowler and a batsman, positioning him as a key player to watch ahead of the upcoming Ashes series in Australia.
In a stunning display, Ahmed delivered bowling figures of 6-51 from 20 overs, helping bowl Derbyshire out for a total of 189 runs. He produced a magnificent performance, taking 7/93. This meant that his overall bowling figures added up to a mind-boggling 13 wickets for 144 runs in 60 overs. Needless to say, this accomplishment represents a remarkable milestone. He thereby becomes the first Leicestershire player since Fred Geeson in 1901 to take 12 wickets or more and score a century in the same match!
Ahmed’s batting prowess was equally noteworthy. He went on to make 115, his third straight Championship century. He came out, and he put in an exceptional performance at the crease, getting a solid 26 runs off just 6 balls. That pivotal contribution proved decisive in Leicestershire’s remarkable championship-capping triumph over rivals Derbyshire. Alongside him, teammates Lewis Hill and Peter Handscomb reached century milestones, with Hill top-scoring at 151 and Handscomb contributing 101.
“This is probably the game of my life so far, and it’s just nice to know the practice that you are doing is working,” Ahmed reflected on his standout performance. His commitment to developing his craft has already earned him comparisons to legendary cricketer Steve Smith, which shows a promising future in any sport.
The young cricketer expressed his ambitions, stating, “I want to be a proper leg-spinner and proper batsman, and there is nothing stopping me apart from myself.” His recent accomplishments need to make a very persuasive statement to the England selectors. In a few months time, they will feature in the highly coveted Ashes series.
Rehan Ahmed on the last Test appearance for England in October. His form for Leicestershire so far this summer shows what immense potential he’s got. He’s very much in the development phase, learning his skills on the field. Cricket fans and national selectors can’t wait to see this emerging talent develop.
Leave a Reply