Thomas Rew has been appointed captain of the England Lions T20 side for a three-match series against West Indies A in St Kitts and Nevis. The Somerset wicketkeeper-batter, who is 18 years old, is widely expected to set a new record as the youngest player to captain the Lions when the series gets underway in November.
The announcement arrives in a remarkable week for Rew. He was handed his first England developmental contract and included in a senior squad for the T20 series in Australia, all within the same few days as this Lions captaincy confirmation. Jonathan Trott, the former England batter, has taken over responsibility for the Lions' winter programme after Andrew Flintoff left his role as head coach.
Once the T20 fixtures in the Caribbean conclude, the Lions will play five one-day matches against West Indies A. Dan Lawrence captains that 50-over squad, and Sam Cook is also included, with both men using the tour as a platform ahead of England's three-Test assignment in South Africa in December.
What has Rew done to merit such rapid elevation?
The decision to hand Rew the Lions captaincy reflects the confidence the England management has placed in him at a very young age. Earlier in 2024, he led England Under-19s all the way to the World Cup final, demonstrating composure and tactical awareness on the biggest junior stage. He then returned to county cricket and recorded his first two first-class centuries for Somerset across the summer, signalling that his development at the professional level is accelerating quickly.
Rew will not reach his 19th birthday until November 29. If he is given a debut opportunity on the senior Australia tour, he would stand as the third-youngest player to represent England in any format, with only Rehan Ahmed and Brian Close having been younger on debut. He would also become the youngest Englishman ever to appear in a match against Australia. Three players from the Lions T20 group, Rew himself, Eddie Jack of Hampshire and Sussex all-rounder James Coles, are scheduled to join the senior party in Australia after the Caribbean leg concludes.
Who is Scott Currie and why does his Lions inclusion stand out?
Hampshire seamer Scott Currie earns a place in the T20 squad and carries a distinctive international history. He was born in Poole and represented Scotland in three one-day internationals back in 2014. His brother Brad has accumulated 39 caps for Scotland across his career. Scott was subsequently called into an England squad for a T20 series in Ireland, and although he did not take the field, that involvement had lasting consequences. He was listed as a substitute fielder in Dublin, which meant governing regulations prevented him from switching back to Scotland for the T20 World Cup held this year. Rew's squad also features his older brother James, adding a family dimension to what is already a significant moment for English cricket's development structure.
England Lions full squad for three-match T20 series v West Indies A
Thomas Rew (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Scott Currie, Adam Finch, Calvin Harrison, Jack Haynes, Eddie Jack, Ben Mayes, Ben McKinney, Liam Patterson-White, James Rew, Naavya Sharma, Ekansh Singh, Asa Tribe.
