When Somerset’s James Rew started the brand new season with a century towards champions Nottinghamshire at Taunton final week, a tweet instructed that solely Don Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar had bettered his 12 first-class a whole lot by the age of twenty-two.
The stat proved inaccurate, however the pleasure was comprehensible. With a top-order Take a look at spot up for grabs, Rew’s identify retains cropping up within the dialog – and irrespective of that he prefers the No 4 slot to the highest three.
Then once more, England took a punt on his good friend and fellow 22-year-old left-hander Jacob Bethell, who had by no means batted above No 4 for Warwickshire however lit up the closing phases of the Ashes with a superlative 154 at Sydney from No 3.
Requested if he can use Bethell as inspiration, Rew chuckles, and opts for the self-deprecation that England are attempting to drum out of him: ‘He’s a bit higher than me.’ However the widespread clamour for renewal could but rely in his favour forward of the primary Take a look at towards New Zealand in June.
He’s used to historic comparisons, in addition to the accompanying strain. When he ticked off his tenth century – an excellent 116 to interrupt the again of a chase of 321 towards Essex at Taunton final Might – he turned the youngest English participant to succeed in the landmark since Denis Compton in 1939. It was, he says, ‘a pleasant stat to listen to’. However what a couple of first Take a look at cap?
‘I’d say I’ve ambitions, however I don’t wish to put a timeline on it,’ he tells Daily Mail Sport. ‘If one thing crops up due to my performances, then that’s a bonus, however I’d relatively concentrate on making an attempt to assist Somerset out with as many runs as potential.’
Somerset’s James Rew racked up his twelfth first-class century within the opening spherical of the County Championship, on the age of simply 22
Rew has vital expertise with the England Lions, in addition to enjoying within the ILT20 within the UAE final winter
Rew (left) with Mark Wooden, Ben McKinney and Josh Hull in England Lions coaching final summer season
And if the selectors ask him to open the batting? ‘I imply, if I bought picked for England, I’d be completely honoured and it will be a privilege. I don’t suppose I’d argue about the place I wished to bat.’
Rew’s different potential route into the Take a look at facet is as wicketkeeper, though Jamie Smith’s century in Surrey’s first recreation, towards Warwickshire at Edgbaston, could have closed that door for now.
However he has already had a style of the massive time, performing twelfth man duties on the second (and last) day of the Ashes opener at Perth in November, and it whet his urge for food.
‘It was an unbelievable expertise,’ he says. ‘I used to be gutted in regards to the outcome, but it surely was good to be within the altering room, and the environment and the gang had been ridiculous. The way in which Travis Head performed was actually good to observe. It’s a disgrace it occurred towards England, however I really feel like I discovered a good bit from that day.
‘Hopefully, if I discover myself in that place sooner or later, I’ll bear in mind what that scenario seems like, and it won’t get on prime of me. However I felt the nerves of individuals having to exit and bat: it was a fairly terrifying environment.’
Rew was within the nation with England Lions, and credit their coach, Andrew Flintoff, with serving to him enhance his recreation towards the quick ball on Australia’s bouncier pitches – in addition to speaking to him in regards to the psychological facet of the sport.
‘After we performed Australia A, that they had just about a Take a look at assault,’ he says. ‘It was about getting used to the bouncing ball, which you’re more likely to be uncovered to extra in Take a look at cricket extra, and it’s one thing for me to maintain engaged on.
‘I loved working with Freddie, and I’ve finished rather a lot with him over the past three or 4 years. We work on making an attempt to get me prepared for taking part in excessive ranges of cricket, and he desires to show me to enjoying in numerous circumstances and towards higher assaults.
Rew’s youthful brother Thomas (left) can also be within the Somerset and England Lions setup
‘Certainly one of his sturdy factors is how he seems to be on the recreation and the way optimistic he’s as a coach – how he was as a participant, and the way he can move that down. It’s one thing I’ve taken from him, the mentality facet and the way aggressive we will be to look to take down opposition.’
At a time when England hierarchy have come beneath hearth for his or her man-management from the likes of Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone and David Willey, Rew has solely optimistic issues to say in regards to the Lions set-up.
‘Usually, it feels such as you don’t see a Lions coach till the journey within the winter and then you definitely simply depart them for an entire 12 months, whereas now it seems like there’s extra of a group,’ he says. ‘We’re in fixed contact with the coaches all year long.’
Now he simply wants to listen to from Brendon McCullum.
