Without doubt, the most impressive newcomer in 2024 was Farhan Ahmed – at 16years 189 days the youngest ever First-Class debutant for Nottinghamshire – and he made that initial appearance against the strongest side in Division One, Surrey.

Farhan took 7-140 in the game’s first innings to become the youngest player in Notts history to take five wickets or more on debut and embellished that performance later by adding three second innings wickets to become not just the youngest to take ‘ten-fer’ for Nottinghamshire but the youngest in the history of county cricket. 

For good measure, he took that record off one WG Grace!

Ahmed actually made his first First-Class appearance earlier in August 2024 when he played for the England Lions against Sri Lanka at Worcester.

He was even then no stranger to international honours, having been selected by England for the ICC Under-19 World Cup squad and had played in three Under-19 Tests, two versus Sri Lanka, the other v Australia, whilst only 15 years old.

Born in Nottingham on 22 February 2008, and educated at the Bluecoat Academy, Farhan Ahmed comes from a cricketing family. His brother Rehan, who also came through the Notts Academy but now plays for Leicestershire, has already represented England at Test level. Another brother, Raheem, has played for Notts and Leics seconds; their father, Naeem Ahmed, has been a force in recreational cricket in Nottingham for a number of years.

Farhan is an off-spinner, Rehan a leg spinner and Raheem bowls medium pace; Raheem, the eldest brother is a left-hander, his younger siblings are both right-handed.

Although only five matches into his First-Class career at the end of the 2024 season, Farhan Ahmed was selected for the England Lions winter tour, alongside another teenager who had a terrific first season with Notts, Freddie McCann, and team-mate Lyndon James.

Fittingly, Farhan Ahmed and Freddie McCann shared the ‘Young Player of the Year’ award when the end-of-season honours were handed out at Trent Bridge.

 

 

Nottinghamshire First-Class Number 677

 

October 2024

 

Farhan Ahmed’s career stats (to date) can be seen here