England's Rehan Ahmed dreaming of Ashes call after a historic winter

The Leicestershire legspinner became England's youngest men's cricketer across all three formats in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Australia and a 50-over World Cup are on the horizon, but the teenager is taking things one day at a time

Rehan Ahmed admits to previously viewing Test cricket as "boring" but is now eyeing a key role in England's attempts to win back the Ashes.

The 18-year-old became the youngest man to represent the country in all formats during the Pakistan Test series and Bangladesh white-ball tour.

It leaves him well-placed to have a central role during a critical 2023 which includes five Tests against Australia and the defence of the 50-over World Cup.

"I still dream of it, but at the same time I take each day as it comes," he said of the Ashes.

"If I play I play and if not then I don’t, that kind of thing.

Ahmed's spectacular winter continued with debuts in both international white-ball formats (Gareth Copley/Getty Images)

"The thing is with England if I don't play I love watching it. So when I was 12th man in Pakistan, it wasn't just me being 12th man. It was me actually watching England cricket live – and it was the best day of my life."

The Leicestershire legspinner took a wicket on his T20I and ODI debuts, but it was in the third Pakistan Test in Karachi where he made the biggest impact. Ahmed claimed seven wickets, including 5 for 48 in the second innings, to inspire an eight-wicket victory just seven months on from his first-class debut.

"I used to see Test cricket as a boring game kind of thing," he admitted.

"But it's a long game, it's the hardest game. Now I see it as the most fun game, I take the most joy from it and stuff.

"The joy I got from playing and winning a Test match was unmatched. I don’t know if anything can match that."