Rehan Ahmed

Rehan Ahmed became the youngest man to play Test cricket for England when he made his debut at 18 years and 126 days old in Karachi in December 2022 - and marked the occasion with a game-changing five-wicket haul in Pakistan's second innings. Further landmarks were achieved in Bangladesh the following spring, when he became England Men's youngest debutant in ODIs and T20Is, as well.

Although his role in the white-ball formats was largely confined to understudying Adil Rashid, he was never far from Test selection in spinning conditions, playing three of five Tests in India in 2024 and another in Pakistan later that year. Having been used as an occasional "nighthawk" by England, his batting also showed signs of development: during the 2025 summer, he smashed five hundreds for Leicestershire to help the Foxes win promotion back to Division One of the County Championship for the first time since 2003.

A legspinning allrounder, Rehan had long been tipped for greatness. Shortly before his 12th birthday, he was used as a net bowler at Lord's before England's Test against Pakistan; when he returned the following summer in the same role, Shane Warne wandered over to watch him and confidently predicted that he would play first-class cricket at the age of 15. Warne was a couple of years early, but by the time that first-class debut arrived in May 2022, he had already impressed enough in England's run to the Under-19 World Cup final to convince Southern Brave to spend £50,000 on him in the Hundred draft.

Having performed well for Leicestershire in the Blast, Rehan won an England Lions call-up to face South Africa in mid-summer. He made his maiden first-class hundred and took his first five-for in his third and final Championship game of the season, and England soon added him to their squad for their series in Pakistan.

It was a fitting place for him to debut. His father Naeem grew up in Pakistan before moving to the UK to work as a taxi driver, and was present in the huddle as Nasser Hussain presented Rehan with his cap. He has two brothers: Raheem, a left-arm seamer, who he insists is the best player in the family; and Farhan, an offspinner.
ESPNcricinfo staff