Jimmy Anderson insists teenage sensation Rehan Ahmed is ready to star against Australia, with the leg-spinner in line to become the youngest ever Ashes cricketer if he replaces Moeen Ali at Lord’s
- Rehan Ahmed was added to England’s Ashes squad on Friday afternoon
- He has been called in as cover for Moeen Ali who is battling with a finger injury
- Jimmy Anderson believes Ahmed will prove he is the real deal if he plays
Jimmy Anderson has backed England’s teenage spinning sensation Rehan Ahmed to shine in the Ashes if he is called on to replace Moeen Ali.
Ahmed, 18, was called up to the England squad on Friday as cover in case Ali’s bothersome blister does not recover from the 47 overs he got through in the first-Test defeat at Edgbaston.
The teenager is already England’s youngest ever Test cricketer after taking seven wickets on debut in Karachi last December, and can become the first 18-year-old to play in an official Ashes Test, after Tom Garrett played for Australia in the first two meetings between the sides in 1877 before the urn was forged.
And Anderson insisted that no matter how old Leicestershire all-rounder Ahmed is, he has what it takes to make an impact.
‘If anyone’s ready at that age, he is,’ said Anderson.
Rehan Ahmed (above) flourished on his England Test debut against Pakistan in December
Ahmed has been called into England’s squad with Moeen Ali struggling with a blister on the index finger of his bowling hand
Jimmy Anderson believes Ahmed is ready to prove he’s the real deal if called upon
‘He’s got a really good head on his shoulders, done really well in all forms of cricket when he’s come in – he learns quickly, he’s got the skills to be able to play at this level and he’s got the temperament to do it as well.
‘If he did get the ball thrown to him I’m sure he’d do a great job.’
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