Strong start to the season
Somerset batter James Rew has made an impressive start in the early weeks of the county championship season. Only three weeks in, he has already scored 379 runs. That places him among the top run scorers, with only Jamie Smith ahead of him.
Rew has shown strong consistency across his innings. In five matches, he has passed fifty in four of them. He also scored a century in the opening game against Nottinghamshire. This was his twelfth first class hundred, achieved at just 22 years of age.
Rew’s batting form stands out
His record is now equal to England batter Zak Crawley in terms of first class centuries, even though Crawley has played far more matches in his career. That comparison has increased attention on Rew’s rapid rise.
Rew is a left handed batter, but he does not usually open the innings. Most of his runs come from the middle order, where he has built a strong and reliable record.
England face a selection challenge
England are now looking at how to reshape their batting lineup after the Ashes series. Rew’s form has added pressure on selectors as they consider changes for the future.
The opening position is seen as one of the weakest areas in the current setup. Crawley’s place in the team has been questioned, which makes the comparison with Rew even more relevant.
However, Rew does not naturally fit into the opening role. This creates a problem for England as they try to balance form, position, and team structure ahead of the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s on 4 June.
What comes next for Rew
Selectors now face a clear decision. They can either adjust the batting order to include Rew or wait for a more natural opening in the squad. His current form makes him hard to ignore, but his role in the team is not straightforward.
England will need to decide whether immediate performance should outweigh long term planning.
