England spinner Rehan Ahmed has expressed his awareness of the challenges posed by Test cricket in India. The five-match series between England and India is scheduled to commence on January 25, at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Hyderabad.
Rehan marked his Test debut against Pakistan at the National Stadium in Karachi in December 2022. In that match, he secured seven wickets, including a notable five-wicket haul. However, he has not featured in a Test match since then.
Despite missing all of England's Tests in 2023, Rehan has returned to the national team for the tour of India. He is part of the quartet of spinners alongside Shoaib Bashir, Tom Hartley, and Jack Leach representing the visiting team.
"I've accepted it's going to be hard. I'll try my best. That's all I can control. I'm just looking forward to playing Test cricket again. The least I could do is make sure I'm fully ready for whatever I can be for England," Rehan was quoted as saying to The Telegraph.
"There's a lot of time for IPL and stuff if I get the chance again, and if I don't get the chance to do it, I'm fine with that as well. I spoke to a couple of people - if you want a long career, you don't want to burn out too soon. Just being ready for England is my main priority," he stated.
The 19-year-old Rehan expressed his intention to incorporate flippers into his bowling, citing inspiration drawn from the legendary Shane Warne.
"I don't like focusing on new things while in competition - I keep it as simple as I can. But I'm sure when I have two or three weeks off I can put my head down and work on something special. I think the flipper's a nice ball to have, especially in T20 cricket - even Test cricket, the way it's going right now. Flipper's a nice ball to have, seeing Warney the way he used to bowl it as well, the way he used to set batsmen up," Rehan added.
Rehan has accumulated a total of 24 wickets in 13 first-class cricket matches, boasting an economy rate of 3.73 and achieving two five-wicket hauls. In addition to his proficiency in bowling leg-breaks, he has showcased his batting skills, notching one century and four half-centuries.
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