England will go for a clean sweep, a new record will be registered in the name of Ahmed
England’s young leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed will set a new record while regular wicket-keeper Ben Foakes will take the field when they take on Pakistan in the third and final Test cricket match starting on Saturday with the intention of making a 3-0 clean sweep in the series. Will return to the playing XI. Fox had contracted the viral infection on the eve of the first Test match in Rawalpindi earlier this month. In his absence, Ollie Pope took over the wicketkeeping duties in the first two Tests.
Young leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed is just 18 years and 126 days old and will become the youngest Test cricketer for England when he takes the field in the third Test. England have decided to rest 40-year-old fast bowler James Anderson. Fox will be included in the team in place of Will Jacques. England captain Ben Stokes said, “It is an encouraging time for Rehan. He was very excited when we told him that he was going to play his first Test match.
When Ahmed takes the field, he will break Brian Close’s 73-year-old record. When Close made his Test debut in 1949 against New Zealand at Manchester, he was 18 years and 149 days old. Ahmed has played only three first-class matches for Leicestershire so far but England coach Brendon McCullum and captain Stokes like his attacking style. England have adopted an aggressive style with McCullum and Stokes and that is the reason why they are leading 2-0 in the three-match series. England won the first match in Rawalpindi by 74 runs and the second match in Multan by 26 runs.
Stokes said he would love to clean sweep the series but does not want to put extra pressure on his teammates. Pakistan team is struggling with the problem of injuries. Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah were already injured while opener Imam-ul-Haq also suffered an injury during the second Test. Pakistan captain Babar Azam said, “We are playing continuous cricket and that is the reason why more of our players are getting injured. It is not that we are not paying attention to fitness but we have to sort out such matters.
