England faces a crucial Champions Trophy match against Afghanistan after a tough loss to Australia. Their challenge worsened as Brydon Carse was ruled out due to injury. In response, England has added mystery spinner Rehan Ahmed to the squad. His inclusion could be a game-changer, but England might also consider Jamie Overton as a direct replacement.
- Rehan Ahmed has been added to replace injured Brydon Carse.
- England must beat Afghanistan to stay in the tournament.
- Team selection could see Rehan Ahmed or Jamie Overton filling Carse’s spot.
Rehan Ahmed’s Impact as a Replacement
Rehan Ahmed has played 6 ODIs, taking 10 wickets at an average of 23.30 and a strike rate of 28.2. His spin could be effective against Afghanistan’s right-handed-heavy top order. Moreover, his experience in Pakistan during a Test series gives him familiarity with similar conditions.
| Rehan Ahmed’s ODI Stats | Data |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 6 |
| Wickets Taken | 10 |
| Bowling Average | 23.30 |
| Strike Rate | 28.2 |
Why England Might Pick Jamie Overton Instead?
England may prefer Jamie Overton as a like-for-like replacement for Carse. Overton’s pace and bounce could trouble Afghanistan’s middle order, which struggles against fast bowling. Additionally, Overton can contribute with the bat, providing depth to England’s lineup. While Rehan Ahmed offers a spin option, Jos Buttler might opt for Overton to counter Afghanistan’s strength against spin.
England’s Probable XI vs Afghanistan
- Philip Salt
- Ben Duckett
- Jamie Smith (wk)
- Joe Root
- Harry Brook
- Jos Buttler (c)
- Liam Livingstone
- Jamie Overton / Rehan Ahmed
- Jofra Archer
- Adil Rashid
- Mark Wood
England faces a must-win scenario and has a tough choice between Rehan Ahmed’s mystery spin and Overton’s pace attack. Their decision could determine their fate in the Champions Trophy. Who will they pick?
Check out the Champions Trophy Stats
