Rehan Ahmed

His promise was obvious early. As a 13-year-old taking part in an invitational net session, he knocked over Ben Stokes's stumps, a moment that led many to mark him out as one of the most exciting prospects in English cricket. He later featured for England at the 2022 Under-19 World Cup, a tournament in which his side reached the final and finished second.

The selectors did not make him wait long for senior honours. Aged 18, he was handed his Test debut on a tour of Pakistan and marked the occasion with a five-wicket haul, while England completed a 3-0 series victory. That impressive start has not translated into a steady place in the Test side, however. He has mostly been picked for matches in the subcontinent, and on home soil England have tended to favour other spinners such as Jack Leach and Shoaib Bashir.

Beyond the longest format, Rehan has built a presence on the franchise circuit, turning out for Southern Brave since 2022. England have also given him a small number of One Day International appearances, an indication that the team's leadership sees his value extending well past red-ball cricket.