Rew hopes to emulate brother's Somerset success

James Rew (left) and younger brother Thomas have followed almost identical paths in cricket so far [Getty Images] In between studying for his maths, economics and geography A-Levels over the next four months, Thomas Rew is hoping he can use what he learnt from a busy winter to break into Somerset's first team. The 18-year-old wicketkeeper-batter captained England's Under-19s as they reached a World Cup final in February and also toured Australia with the England Lions ahead of the Ashes series, the latter alongside older brother James. The Rew brothers are among England cricket's brightest young talents and with 21-year-old James - also a wicketkeeper - now established in the Somerset side, Thomas wants to keep following the same path.

"I'd love to be a part of that first team, especially in the four-day stuff," Rew told BBC Radio Somerset. "It's going to be tough with my exams at the start of the year being able to balance all of that. "But what I've learnt from the winter I'm looking to take that into the summer - you have to adapt quickly in red ball cricket over here in England, a little bit more than what I'm used to at two's level, but I'd love to be a part of that first team squad.

" County Championship 2026: Clean slate for the domestic game? Which players could England turn to for 2027 Ashes? While Thomas made his T20 and One-Day Cup debuts last season, he has yet to step into Somerset's first-class team.

But a busy winter has proved a fruitful training ground. Away with the Lions in Australia alongside James, the right-hand batter scored 55 against England during a warm-up match before the first Ashes Test in Perth and followed it with 47 against a strong Australia A side in Brisbane. He then made a century while skippering England Under-19's to the World Cup final, hitting 330 runs during the tournament and amassing the highest number of dismissals of any player with 14.