England starlet Rehan Ahmed concedes 22 RUNS in an over for Leicestershire against Yorkshire

Rehan Ahmed had a punishing start to the English home season as his first bowl in first-class cricket since claiming a five-wicket haul on his Test debut, giving him 22 runs in an over.

The Leicestershire leg spinner was introduced in attack from the end of the football stands for the 20th over of the innings at Headingley after Yorkshire had been brought on by the County Championship wooden spoonbills last year.

In stark contrast to the five-for-48 performance that plunged Pakistan to defeat in Karachi four months ago, Ahmed opened with a full toss head high which was tagged to leg side by Finlay Bean and judged a no-ball. When another full bunger was sent to a similar region, Ahmed had conceded 10 runs from one legitimate delivery.

Two further Bean boundaries – a scornful back past the bowler and wrist-like pull – either side of the classy young southpaw who recorded the championship’s first 50 of 2023, from 57 deliveries, took Yorkshire to triple figures in their first outing the top flight over 11 years.

18-year-old Ahmed was immediately withdrawn from the line of fire, but having a wrist spinner on in the first 90 minutes of the season highlighted Lewis Hill’s decision to bowl after winning the coin toss.

Finlay Bean (right) finished the day with 82 runs to his name in a profitable outing for Yorkshire

The seamen’s only breakthrough at the time was delivered by another 18-year-old in debutant Josh Hull, who marked his fourth ball in the professional ranks by previously pinning stand-in Yorkshire captain Adam Lyth.

Meanwhile, Jonny Bairstow recovered from a horrific broken leg and dislocated ankle the field at lunchtime, hitting the edge of the square.

The 33-year-old is targeting two County Championship games next week as wicketkeeper in his bid to return to England’s Test squad against Ireland on June 1.