Brendon McCullum believes England’s teenage sensation Rehan Ahmed can return residence from his startling Take a look at debut in opposition to Pakistan and ‘wow’ the cricketing world.
McCullum, who has overseen a outstanding transformation in England’s fortunes since taking up in the beginning of final summer time, ended the historic tour by heaping reward on an 18-year-old who took seven wickets within the whitewash finishing third Take a look at win in Karachi.
‘It’s a terrific story,’ stated the England coach earlier than returning residence to New Zealand ‘for a little bit of golf and a few glasses of crimson’.
England coach Brendon McCullum (proper) has heaped reward on teenager Rehan Ahmed
‘He’s a younger child however has an amazing angle, a excessive ceiling, a little bit of x-factor and the potential to wow the world which is fairly cool.
‘To see that at such a younger age and to have finished what he has finished is superb. It’s been an necessary factor for the group too. When Rehan acquired his cap and we noticed what it meant there have been fairly just a few emotional individuals within the dressing room. It means a lot.’
The important thing now could be what comes subsequent for a gifted all-round prospect who has lengthy been on England’s radar since rising from the Leicestershire academy after, in an uncommon reversal, shifting on from their greater neighbour in Nottinghamshire.
The 18-year-old took seven wickets within the whitewash finishing third Take a look at win in Karachi
Paul Nixon, the Leicestershire coach, has been working in Pakistan and stated on the talkSPORT Following On podcast that his county’s makes an attempt to offer turning pitches to swimsuit Ahmed and their ‘No1’ spinner Callum Parkinson had been frowned upon by ECB. However that they might proceed to offer him each first-team alternative doable.
Ahmed shall be named within the Take a look at squad to tour New Zealand in February however the fashionable England don’t imagine the all-important expertise he wants now must be in first-class cricket and he’ll enter Friday’s Indian Premier League public sale with McCullum’s blessing.
Teenage sensation writes his identify on the honours board on the Karachi Nationwide Stadium
‘We must take care of him and encourage him to get as a lot expertise of circumstances and franchise tournaments as doable with totally different coaches and gamers to permit that expertise to come back out,’ stated McCullum.
‘Seeing a child given his probability at 18 to dwell his dream and dominate in a Take a look at match is a good message to different proficient kids who may be good at a number of sports activities. Perhaps it’s going to spark one thing in them and we’ll see others coming by way of. If that occurs then Rehan shall be a pioneer.’
The New Zealander was additionally stuffed with reward for his captain Ben Stokes who, he revealed, has been fighting the virus that has affected the England camp to a far larger diploma than they’ve let on all through a momentous collection.
‘Stokesey was unbelievably in poor health within the second sport however he by no means talked about it,’ stated McCullum. ‘He was simply involved in regards to the different guys, making an attempt to work out who was going to take the sector. Jack Leach was criminal and was just about a non-starter however Ben went to his room and stated ‘you’re enjoying. I’ll get you thru. I desperately want you within the staff since you’re so necessary to us’. That’s a reasonably highly effective message.’
Ahmed was even capable of have a blast with the bat in direction of the tip of the third day in Karachi
McCullum has clearly performed an enormous half in what’s turning into some of the important developments in Take a look at historical past alongside Stokes after Rob Key’s masterstroke in placing them along with England near their lowest ebb.
However, as ever, he was reluctant to just accept any credit score for his position as he ready for his downtime earlier than England arrive in his native New Zealand for these two Checks.
‘I do bugger all to be trustworthy,’ insisted McCullum. ‘I keep out of the best way but when the gamers confidence dips I simply remind them what provides them their biggest probability and ensure they’re having a very good time.’
McCullum is ensuring the entire of English cricket is having a very good time.
