Thomas Rew’s winter just got a touch busier. The Somerset wicketkeeper-batter, 18 years old and already on the England Lions radar, has been confirmed as captain for January’s Under-19 World Cup in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
Rew missed last month’s trip to the Caribbean – England lost that seven-match series 5-2 – because he was keeping for the Lions in Australia. He did not exactly flounder there, making 19 and 47 on first-class debut against Australia A, a decent return for someone who only sat A-levels in the summer. Those runs followed a fast-forward hundred for the U19s against India in June, reached in just 73 balls, the quickest by an England youngster.
The family link is familiar. Elder brother James, also a gloveman, was on the same Lions tour, although Thomas took the gloves at Allan Border Field. A friendly rivalry, but the younger Rew now has the armband.
Farhan Ahmed, Nottinghamshire off-spinner and sibling of full-international Rehan, stays on as vice-captain. He led in the West Indies and, by all accounts, did a solid job in testing conditions. Only one fresh face joins the 15-strong party: Leicestershire left-arm spinner Ali Farooq, uncapped at this level but tipped for red-ball success by his county coaches.
Head coach Mike Yardy likes the blend. “This is an amazing opportunity for the players we have selected to not only wear an England shirt at a World Cup but also to go out and try and do something special,” he said. “We have a balanced squad with a core group of players who already have county experience and who have developed a camaraderie while playing together for the U19s that will serve them well during the tournament. I really want the players to enjoy the opportunity to play at a World Cup, in a beautiful country like Zimbabwe, and to embrace the chance to compete against different countries and show their quality.”
England sit in Group C with Pakistan, Scotland and hosts Zimbabwe. First up is Pakistan at Takashinga Sports Club, Harare, on 16 January. The top three progress, so a couple of early wins would ease nerves.
Squad in full: Thomas Rew (capt), Farhan Ahmed (vc), Ralphie Albert, Ben Dawkins, Caleb Falconer, Ali Farooq, Alex French, Alex Green, Luke Hands, Manny Lumsden, Ben Mayes, James Minto, Isaac Mohammed, Joe Moores, Sebastian Morgan.
There is county pedigree throughout – Surrey’s Dawkins can hurry a new ball, while Kent’s Hands offers handy middle-order power – yet the bigger step is adapting to unfamiliar pitches. Expect plenty of chat about spin, reverse swing and altitude during the warm-up week in Windhoek.
Nothing is guaranteed at junior World Cups; the format is ruthless and the talent pool wide. Still, with Rew’s runs, Ahmed’s guile and Yardy’s calm hand, England have the tools to get deep into February.
