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England’s young spinners are flourishing in India because of Ben Stokes’ leadership, says Rehan Ahmed.<\/span><\/p>\n Despite only playing one Test between them before the tour, Ahmed, Tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir have a combined 26 wickets after two Tests.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n They have more wickets than India’s experienced line-up, despite coming up against some of the best batters in the world in their own conditions.<\/span><\/p>\n “That just shows how great the team environment is,” said Ahmed, 19.<\/span><\/p>\n “Tommy and Bash, you’ve seen them come in and not be nervous and that’s credit to the team.<\/span><\/p>\n “The environment and the leadership we have, it does make you kind of forget the players you are playing against – we just focus on what we need to do.<\/span><\/p>\n “They [Stokes and head coach Brendon McCullum] just don’t care about how bad things can go. It’s always about what good you can get out of it.<\/span><\/p>\n “So if I bowl four bad balls and get a wicket, that’s better than bowling 16 good balls in a row.”<\/span><\/p>\n Ahmed has eight wickets in the series, with 24-year-old Hartley taking 14 and Bashir, 20, four.<\/span><\/p>\n The series is level at 1-1 with three to play, starting with the third Test in Rajkot on 15 February.<\/span><\/p>\n Ahmed also highlighted the time Stokes gave himself and team-mate Bashir – who are both practising Muslims – time off for Friday prayers as an example of his astute man-management.<\/span><\/p>\n “I remember a time in Abu Dhabi where there was a team day out on a Friday,” said Ahmed. “We had Friday prayers. Obviously me and Bash [Bashir] were there. I messaged Wayno [Wayne Bentley], the team manager, asking if we could miss this day because we needed to pray. <\/span><\/p>\n “Stokes messaged me straight away and said ‘come to me whenever you want about this kind of stuff, I understand it fully’. And yes he’s stuck by his word. <\/span><\/p>\n “Every time I pray he is so respectful, very understanding. Everyone is on this tour.”<\/span><\/p>\n On the field, one of the reasons for the form of England’s young spin attack is the performance of wicketkeeper Ben Foakes.<\/span><\/p>\n Foakes has taken six catches and two stumpings and Ahmed believes the Surrey man is among the best in the world.<\/span><\/p>\n He was dropped for last summer’s Ashes but returned to the side for the India series, with Jonny Bairstow playing as a specialist batter.<\/span><\/p>\n “I have never seen anyone as good as him,” said Ahmed. “I reckon he is the best keeper in the world, ever.”<\/span><\/p>\n All three of Ahmed’s Test appearances have been alongside Foakes, having made his debut against Pakistan in Karachi in December 2022.<\/span><\/p>\n “He trains so hard. I just don’t see him miss a ball. I can’t even explain how good he is,” added leg-spinner Ahmed.<\/span><\/p>\n “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.”<\/span><\/p>\n Jasprit Bumrah has become the first India male pace bowler to top the world bowling rankings after his player-of-the-match performance in the second Test against England.<\/span><\/p>\n The 30-year-old, who had match figures of 9-91 to help India level the series, replaces Ravichandran Ashwin at the top of the ICC rankings.<\/span><\/p>\n Bumrah is just the fourth India player to top the rankings after spinners Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Bishan Bedi.<\/span><\/p>\n England seam bowler James Anderson, 41, has climbed one place to seventh after taking five wickets in the second Test.<\/span><\/p>\nBumrah tops bowling rankings<\/h3>\n