The two Rew brothers at Somerset have the opportunity to become greats of the English games. James, 22, and Thomas, 18, have progressed through the Somerset academy and will surely play red ball cricket together at some point when Thomas finishes his exams this summer.
James is already making waves in the first class game, being the youngest player since Denis Compton to score ten first class centuries. His tall and elegant style has already graced the county circuit for a few seasons now, and with England potentially looking for a new wicketkeeper this summer if Jamie Smiths’ struggles continue, it could be the older Rews way into the test team. He was selected for the one off test against Zimbabwe in 2025 when Jordan Cox was injured, so he has been around the squad before.
Thomas on the other hand has just come off a very successful winter as Captain of the England under-19s with 330 runs at an average of 66 in the recent U-19s world cup. For his efforts he was named in the Team of the Tournament.
He also represented England Lions over the winter travelling to Australia to play against their national side in the warm up match, played at Lilac Hill where he scored 66.
Thomas was bought for £80,000 by the Southern Brave in this years Hundred auction despite having played a T20 match for Somerset.
This shows that the owners of the franchise have clearly seen something in him as a player for the future.
Meanwhile James was bought for £31,000 by the London Spirit, and considering James has played fourteen T20 matches for Somerset with an average of 31, it shows that Thomas was hot property.
I am convinced that both brothers will be selected by England in the near future, it’s just a question of which one will be better; they are both wicketkeepers and top order batsmen. With Joe Root not being able to carry on forever, and Ben Stokes always at the mercy of the injury Gods, a spot could open up for one of the Rew brothers sooner rather than later. My money would be on James; his ability to keep and bat in the top order must hold sway. Even so, these brothers are bright prospects and must not be ignored by the England selectors this coming summer.
