NEW DELHI: England have included teenage leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed in their squad for the second Ashes Test against Australia to provide cover for Moeen Ali.
At the age of 18, Ahmed made history by becoming the youngest player to represent England in Test cricket during their match against Pakistan in December.
The Leicestershire player made an eye-catching debut for Ben Stokes's side in Karachi, taking seven wickets in the match and 5-48 in the second innings.
But Ahmed has taken just six wickets in seven matches in the second division of the County Championship this season, at an average of more than 67.
Off-spinning all-rounder Moeen struggled with a finger blister in the dramatic first Test at Edgbaston, which Australia won by two wickets.
The 36-year-old, who was playing in his first Test for two years, still hopes to be fit for the second match of the five-game series at Lord's, starting on Wednesday.
There is also the possibility that England will select a four-man seam attack augmented by Joe Root's part-time spin.
England squad: Ben Stokes (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonathan Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Dan Lawrence, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts, Ollie Robinson, Joe Root, Josh Tongue, Chris Woakes, Mark Wood.
(With AFP Inputs)