When Somerset’s James Rew started the brand new season with a century in opposition to champions Nottinghamshire at Taunton final week, a tweet steered that solely Don Bradman and Sachin Tendulkar had bettered his 12 first-class lots of by the age of twenty-two.
The stat proved inaccurate, however the pleasure was comprehensible. With a top-order Check 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 pal 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 levels 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 might but rely in his favour forward of the primary Check in opposition to New Zealand in June.
He’s used to historic comparisons, in addition to the accompanying strain. When he ticked off his tenth century – a superb 116 to interrupt the again of a chase of 321 in opposition to Essex at Taunton final Could – he turned the youngest English participant to achieve the landmark since Denis Compton in 1939. It was, he says, ‘a pleasant stat to listen to’. However what a couple of first Check 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 somewhat deal with attempting to assist Somerset out with as many runs as doable.’
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 taking part in 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 received picked for England, I’d be completely honoured and it will be a privilege. I don’t assume I’d argue about the place I needed to bat.’
Rew’s different potential route into the Check aspect is as wicketkeeper, though Jamie Smith’s century in Surrey’s first recreation, in opposition to Warwickshire at Edgbaston, might 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 closing) 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 concerning the outcome, nevertheless it was good to be within the altering room, and the ambiance and the gang have been ridiculous. The best way Travis Head performed was actually good to observe. It’s a disgrace it occurred in opposition to 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 ambiance.’
Rew was within the nation with England Lions, and credit their coach, Andrew Flintoff, with serving to him enhance his recreation in opposition to the quick ball on Australia’s bouncier pitches – in addition to speaking to him concerning the psychological aspect of the sport.
‘After we performed Australia A, they’d just about a Check assault,’ he says. ‘It was about getting used to the bouncing ball, which you’re more likely to be uncovered to extra in Check cricket extra, and it’s one thing for me to maintain engaged on.
‘I loved working with Freddie, and I’ve finished quite a bit with him during the last three or 4 years. We work on attempting to get me prepared for enjoying excessive ranges of cricket, and he desires to show me to taking part in in numerous situations and in opposition to 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 constructive he’s as a coach – how he was as a participant, and the way he can cross that down. It’s one thing I’ve taken from him, the mentality aspect and the way aggressive we could be to look to take down opposition.’
At a time when England hierarchy have come beneath fireplace for his or her man-management from the likes of Jonny Bairstow, Liam Livingstone and David Willey, Rew has solely constructive issues to say concerning the Lions set-up.
‘Usually, it feels such as you don’t see a Lions coach till the journey within the winter and you then simply depart them for an entire yr, 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.
