Rehan Ahmed Set To Be Picked In England’s Test Squad For Ashes Series | Cricket News

Rehan Ahmed last played a Test match for England in October 2024 against Pakistan. (Picture Credit: AFP)

21-year-old spin bowling all-rounder Rehan Ahmed, who last played a Test match for England against Pakistan in Rawalpindi last year, is all set to be picked in England’s squad for the upcoming 2025-26 edition of the Ashes series. This year’s Ashes between Australia and England is set to start on November 21 in Perth, and the next four matches will be played in Brisbane (December 4-8), Adelaide (December 17-21), Melbourne (December 26-30) and Sydney (January 4-8).

According to reports in English media, Rehan is ahead of Liam Dawson for a place in England’s squad. 35-year-old Dawson played the fourth Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy in Manchester but was only able to take one wicket in two innings.

Rehan, who played for England in the first T20I of the ongoing three-match series against Ireland, impressed with his batting and bowling in the County Championship Division Two for Leicestershire. In 10 matches, he amassed a total of 760 runs with the help of five centuries and one fifty and also picked up 23 wickets in 13 innings.

England’s head coach Brendon McCullum is confident that star all-rounder and Test captain Ben Stokes and pacer Mark Wood will be fit in time for the Ashes series.

Stokes missed the fifth and final Test of the home series against India at The Oval due to an injury, whereas Wood missed the entire home series due to an injury.

Atherton not convinced

Former England captain Michael Atherton, who has now donned the hat of an expert, is not convinced with Rehan’s place in England’s Test team. According to him, the youngster should be considered for England duty in limited-overs cricket.

“He’s had an outstanding season in all formats,” said Atherton. “He’s been superb in the Championship; he’s hit more runs than taken wickets.”

“His role is much more clearly defined in one-day cricket at the moment, and I see him very much as the successor to Adil Rashid; he’s perfect for white-ball cricket.

“There’s a bit of chat about him for the Ashes, and I think there are better top-order batters, and I think there are better red-ball leg-spinners, but he’s right there in white-ball cricket.”