England cricketer labelled 'a joke' and the 'best there has ever been' ahead of third India Test

England cricketer labelled 'a joke' and the 'best there has ever been' ahead of third India Test

WATCH NOW: Sports round-up as England battle India in a Test series

Lewis Winter

By Lewis Winter


Published: 07/02/2024

- 20:53

Rehan Ahmed has given a glowing verdict on England team-mate Ben Foakes

England spinner Rehan Ahmed claims Ben Foakes is the best wicket-keeper he has ever seen.

Ahmed says the 30-year-old is 'a joke' and is in the argument for being the best in his position of all time.


Foakes returned to the England team for the first Test of the series against India after being left out of last year's Ashes.

Selectors and Ben Stokes couldn't find a place for the Surrey man against Australia due to the makeup of his side.

Ben Foakes and Rehan Ahmed

Rehan Ahmed says he has not seen a better wicket-keeper than Ben Foakes

Getty

Foakes was named in the squad to tour India in December but his place in the team wasn't guaranteed.

Harry Brook then pulled out due to personal reasons, opening up a space in the middle order for Jonny Bairstow and therefore allowing Foakes to take the gloves.

He has excelled behind the stumps in the opening two Tests, pulling off an array of impressive catches in Vizag especially.

Ahmed took six wickets in the second Test and was grateful for Foakes' work in the hot conditions in India.

He may only be 19, but Ahmed insists he has seen nobody better in Foakes' position.

He said: "[Foakes] is a joke. I reckon he is the best keeper in the world, ever. I have never seen anyone as good as him.

"He trains so hard. I just don't see him miss a ball. I can't even explain how good he is.

"A couple of those catches [in the second Test] he took 80-90 overs into the game. It's very hot, it's humid and he is still taking those types of catches."

Ahmed bowled just six overs in the second innings of the miracle first Test win in Hyderabad.

However, Stokes and Brendon McCullum kept faith with him in Vizag and he reaped his rewards.

Ahmed admitted he wasn't happy with how he bowled in the first Test but made a conscious change to improve.

He added: "I don't think there's many places where you can say leg-spin does very well. I think it's more about adapting as well as you can.

LATEST SPORTS NEWS:

Ben Foakes

Ben Foakes has excelled for England in the first two Tests against India

Getty

"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 little bit but again, tried to keep it balanced as well. I think it's more of a thinking game than anything.

"Not a skill thing. I think if you just keep it very simple, you'll be all right.

"I think I'm just playing in India, so it's going [to turn] a bit more. I mean, I've been working on it as much as I can.

Rehan Ahmed

Rehan Ahmed improved in the second Test against India

Getty

"I've not really thought about trying to get big sidespin. I just try to hit the stumps as many times as I can.

"So yeah, I have tried to put more spin on it. Tried to get it on the seam and stuff, but I just feel like bowling cross-seam with variable bounce is more dangerous in India than bowling on the seam quite traditionally."

England are enjoying some downtime in Dubai before the third Test in Rajkot next Thursday.

You may like