Pakistan v England: Rehan Ahmed recalled as visitors choose three spinners for Test series decider
Updated 22/10/2024 at 11:14 GMT+1
Rehan Ahmed will play his first Test since February after he was named in the England side to face Pakistan in the series decider in Rawalpindi. The 20-year-old is one of three spinners selected, alongside Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir, with seamer Gus Atkinson also recalled to the XI as Brydon Carsen and Matthew Potts drop out of the side. The three-match series is level at 1-1.
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Rehan Ahmed has been recalled to the England side for the Test series decider against Pakistan, with captain Ben Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum opting to use three full-time spinners in Rawalpindi.
Seamer Gus Atkinkson is also back for the match, which starts on Thursday.
It will be Ahmed's first Test since a defeat to India in February, with hopes he can replicate a stunning debut performance against Pakistan in December 2022, when he took seven wickets across two innings during a game which made him England’s youngest ever Test player at the age of just 18.
The 20-year-old Leicestershire bowler, who has taken 18 wickets in four matches since making his debut in that series, will feature in a spin attack which also includes Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir and the part-time spin of Joe Root.
England have continued their rotation of fast-bowlers, with Brydon Carse and Matthew Potts dropping out. But the selection decision leaves Atkinson as one of only two fast-bowling options, with Stokes the other.
On a turning wicket in Multan, Pakistan levelled the series at 1-1 with a 152 run victory in the second Test, bouncing back strongly from England’s record breaking win in the first match.
"He's [Ahmed] an outstanding cricketer. It's not just his bowling, but his batting and fielding. He's a young lad so he has a lot of time to come," said batter Harry Brook, who only managed scores of 9 and 16 in the second match, following his 317 in the first Test.
"He got five-for in the last test here, so hopefully he can do that again.”
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England have named their team two days early, having sized up what the pitch is likely to do in Rawalpindi.
"They've had the rakes out, the fans and the heaters on the pitch," Brook said of the ground staff.
"It's interesting and it's unique. Hopefully, it'll be a nice pitch for the first couple of days and then we're expecting it to turn at the back end of the game.
"I'd say it will be a good pitch for the first day, two days maybe, then it will start spinning. God knows, to be honest. Everyone goes to look at the wicket and everyone says something different.
"Their spinners are obviously going to play a massive part this week. I've spoken to a few lads about game-plans and how we'll go about it. Hopefully that pays off and I can play a big part in the game too."
England team to face Pakistan in the third Test, starting Thursday, October 24
Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes (captain), Jamie Smith (wicket-keeper), Gus Atkinson, Rehan Ahmed, Jack Leach, Shoaib Bashir.
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