Somerset wicketkeeper and England Test prospect, James Rew, made his third half-century in four County Championship innings so far this season to stave off a collapse against Hampshire.
Rew came in when Somerset were 25-2, having bowled Hampshire out for 238 on day one at the Utilita Bowl. Joining Archie Vaughan at the crease, the pair counter-attacked through the new ball, scoring briskly before Vaughan was out to a hook shot off Sonny Baker which ended the partnership one run short of 50.
Now joined by Tom Abell, Rew continued to move through the gears, and reached his half century with a drive through the off-side to the boundary off Kyle Abbott. His half-century came from 74 balls, and was the third time Rew had passed 50 in as many matches this season.
Match 21, Hampshire vs Somerset
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He made a century in Somerset's opening fixture against Nottinghamshire to secure a draw in the fourth innings, having already made 64 in the first innings of the match. Last week against Essex, he scored 48 in the only innings he was required to bat, again to arrest a top-order collapse.
After finishing day one against Hampshire unbeaten on 77, Rew only lasted 45 minutes of the morning session of day two before slicing the second ball he faced from Codi Yusuf to gully – out for 86 off 115 balls.
Rew edges closer in England Test selection race
Rew has been widely tipped as a future England Test star, and was called up as a reserve wicketkeeper for their Test match squad against Zimbabwe last year, after Jordan Cox was ruled out with injury. Since making his first-class debut in 2021, he has scored 12 centuries in 59 matches. Last year, he became the youngest English player since Denis Compton to score 10 first-class hundreds, at just 21 years old.
Nevertheless, there seems little opportunity for Rew to come into England's Test side as a wicketkeeper for their first series of the summer against New Zealand, given incumbent Jamie Smith has also had a fast start to the season for Surrey. Smith is currently the leading run-scorer in Division One of the County Championship, having scored 396 runs over two matches, while Rew is in second place with 320. One potential avenue which might see him come into the side is as an opener, although as of yet he has no previous professional experience in the role.
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