Teenage leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed will become England’s youngest men’s Test cricketer after being given his debut in Saturday’s series finale against Pakistan in Karachi.
When the final Test starts, the Leicestershire player will be 18 years and 126 days old, breaking the record of Brian Close, who was 18 years and 149 days old when he played against New Zealand in Manchester in July 1949.
Ahmed is one of two changes to England’s lineup as the visitors look for a record 3-0 series sweep and their ninth victory in ten Tests since Ben Stokes took over as captain and Brendon McCullum became head coach.
Ahmed and wicketkeeper Ben Foakes replace seamer James Anderson and off-spinner Will Jacks in the XI.
Foakes will reclaim the gloves from Surrey teammate Ollie Pope, who batted in the first Test in Rawalpindi while Foakes was ill and then held his place behind the wickets for the second match in Multan.
Ahmed will not be the youngest person to play a Test for England; that honor belongs to Holly Colvin, who was 15 years and 336 days old when she made her debut for the women’s squad against Australia in 2005 at Hove.
