Rehan Ahmed, 18, gets Ashes call-up as cover for Ali

The 18-year-old Rehan Ahmed has been added to the England squad for the second Ashes Test as cover for Moeen Ali. Ahmed, the Leicestershire leg spinner, has never played a Test match in England. His only game in the format was in Pakistan in December, when he took five wickets in the second innings and seven in the match. If he plays at Lord’s, he will be the youngest cricketer in the history of the men’s Ashes.
 Ali was brought in as a replacement for England’s Jack Leach, who was ruled out of the series with a stress fracture. He was selected for the first Test but, having not played a first-class game since 2021, struggled and suffered a blistered spinning finger during the defeat. Brendon McCullum, the England head coach, said that Ali would retain his place if fit, but the inclusion of Ahmed indicates that there is some doubt over his finger healing by the start of the game on Wednesday.
 Will Jacks, the Surrey all-rounder, was thought to be in consideration to provide cover for Ali, but England have opted for the more attacking option.They may decide to play four frontline seamers and use Joe Root to bowl the spin overs. Mark Wood is likely to come into the side and Chris Woakes will be under strong consideration given his fine record at Lord’s, where he averages 61.2 with the bat and 11.3 with the ball.