AFP via Getty Images<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/aside>\nHe was also parachuted in at No. 3 on the penultimate evening of the Test, looking to provide a shock going into the fourth innings. It didn't work – Rehan's cameo of 23 off 31 wasn't big enough in a colossal target of 399. It meant he also didn't keep his promise to his favorite player, Kevin Pietersen , who commentated on the first two matches. “He spoke to me and said 'okay, I just want to see some sixes',” Rehan said. “I said I'd try. I didn't get one. It's the thought that counts.”<\/p>\n
The intention was good, particularly as a reprisal of Rehan's role as the original “Nighthawk” the previous winter, after Stuart Broad had lagged behind in the role in the England summer. It was Rehan's idea too, to collar Ben Stokes as they left the field after the end of India's second innings.<\/p>\n\nEditor's Choice<\/h2>\n 2 Related<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n
\u201cI don\u2019t know where this confidence comes from,\u201d he says. “But I just felt like it was the right time to go, and I'll take every opportunity I get to do it. So yeah, I went straight to Stokesy and Baz and was like 'let I put the towels on.”<\/p>\n
He would like more permanent promotion \u2013 \u201ctop seven, top six would be good\u201d \u2013 but appreciates that he is currently missing points. A century for Leicestershire, against Derbyshire in late summer 2022, and an 85 and a 90 against Yorkshire and Glamorgan last season are his most notable first-class scores. Those who have closely followed Rehan's progress at the ECB are wondering whether he will end up becoming a bigger hitter as his career takes shape.<\/p>\n
For now, the bowler is doing his part. And Rehan's thoughts on how the tour has gone so far are refreshingly mature.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't think there are many places where you can say leg rotation works very well,\u201d he says. \u201cI think it\u2019s more about adapting as best you can.<\/p>\n\nRehan Ahmed drills one on the leg side Getty Images<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/aside>\n“I think I bowled a bit slow in the first Test. The batsmen had a lot of time to play more. So I tried to speed up a bit but again I also tried to keep the pace balance. I think it's more of a “puzzle game” than anything else. It's not a question of skill. I think if you keep it very simple you will be fine. “<\/p>\n
Despite everything, his legbreak seems to be turning more in this series than previously. Something he worked on, perhaps?<\/p>\n
\u201cI think I'm just playing in India, so it's a little bit better,\u201d he says. “I mean, I've been working on it as much as I can. I haven't really thought about trying to get big side spins. I'm just trying to hit the stumps as many times as possible.<\/p>\n
“So yeah, I tried to give it more spin. I tried putting it on the seam and all that, but I just feel like cross-seam bowling with variable bounce is more dangerous in India that bowling on the seam in a fairly traditional way.”<\/p>\n
Rehan's most productive form of dismissal was caught, a testament to Ben Foakes' work behind the stumps – 'I think he's the best keeper in the world ever… I've ever seen someone as good as him\u201d \u2013 and a consistent offensive line. There were times when the Indian batters got to him, but he never hesitated. It's not in his nature.<\/p>\n
\u201cI don't like young girls bowling,\u201d says Rehan, despite the fact that only Bumrah (14) has bowled more than his 11 in the series so far. “I think it's just boring. I'll try to change some things.”<\/p>\n\nBen Stokes stuck with Rehan Ahmed on tough day Associated Press<\/cite><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/aside>\nStokes' use of Rehan has varied, although the onus has always been on taking wickets. He used it all the way to 61st in the first innings of the last Test, which Rehan admits made him angry. He then took 3 for 65.<\/p>\n
“Every time he looked at the scoreboard behind me, I was like [gestures warming up]. When he gave me the ball, he said, \u201cShould I tell you something?\u201d And I was like, \u201cPlease give me the ball.\u201d<\/p>\n
“The fact is we all trust Stokesy. Everyone knows what's going on in Stokesy's head. He's always looking to make the team better. That's what I want too. Whatever the needs of the team, I will try to do it. Obviously, Stokesy He will always put the team first. It's not about making me happy. If he believes that I will get a wicket at some point, he will put me in place.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey just don\u2019t care how bad things are,\u201d he says of Stokes and Brendon McCullum. “It's always about how much good you can get out of it. So if I bowl four bad balls and get a wicket, that's better than bowling 16 good balls in a row.”<\/p>\n
Stokes' confidence in Rehan is matched only by his sensitivity. With Islam playing a major role in Rehan's daily life – “much more important than cricket” – he was allowed to miss some training sessions to observe optional fasting days. Appreciation of a player's faith is the least you can expect from any team, but Rehan appreciates how open he can be with his.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n“Stokes is so good with it. I remember a time in Abu Dhabi where there was a team day on a Friday. We had Friday prayers. Obviously me and Bash [Shoaib Bashir] were there. I sent a message to Wayno [Wayne Bentley]the team leader, asking us if we could miss this day because we need to pray.<\/p>\n
“Stokes messaged me right away and said, 'Come see me anytime about this stuff, I totally understand.' And yes, he keeps his word. Every time I pray, he's very respectful, very understanding. Everyone is on tour.”<\/p>\n
In the short term, the third Test looms with the series locked at 1-1. The forecast for the surface ranges from flat to the sharpest bend of the three so far. England, as they have done throughout this series, will analyze the preparations to make a call to their team the day before the Test.<\/p>\n
Whether this means continuing with their current range of three spinners and a seamer remains to be seen. Whatever their decision, and with Jack Leach unlikely to fully recover from his damaged right knee, Rehan is a lock at the moment. Would this be a chance to assert yourself as a man<\/a> for all conditions?<\/p>\n\u201cI think to stay in the team you have to justify your place,\u201d says Rehan, not expecting any \u201cwildcard\u201d charity. \u201cI need wickets and runs.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Rehan Ahmed swings from the hip… but not on the golf course\u060c It was an early departure for England at the Novotel Hotel in Visakhapatnam on Wednesday morning, as they flew off for a brief stay in Abu Dhabi. The golf clubs will meet them there, while the cricket kit will hit the road to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":24477,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[10150,2462,4905,10149,10387],"class_list":["post-24476","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-sports","tag-ahmed","tag-golf","tag-hip","tag-rehan","tag-swings"],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24476","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=24476"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24476\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":24478,"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/24476\/revisions\/24478"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/24477"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=24476"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=24476"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wikidollar.net\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=24476"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}