Somerset head coach Jason Kerr has publicly supported James Rew as a potential opener for England in this summer’s Test series. After England’s heavy 4-1 Ashes defeat in Australia, changes to the batting lineup appear inevitable, with Rew emerging as a promising candidate for the opening spot.
Current openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett struggled significantly in Australia. Crawley has managed just 60 runs across four Championship innings for Kent this summer, while Duckett has scored only 26 in his one appearance for Nottinghamshire. In stark contrast, 22-year-old James Rew has already amassed over 300 runs this season, second only to England’s current wicketkeeper-batsman Jamie Smith.
Although Rew has mostly batted at number four for Somerset, Kerr believes he has the skill set to succeed as an opener. After Rew scored 86 in Somerset’s first innings against Hampshire, Kerr said, “It’s in my mind because I’ve seen how he handles his innings. But ultimately, we need to prioritize what’s best for the team and avoid jeopardizing his chances to play for England.”
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Kerr emphasized Rew’s run-scoring ability and adaptability, concluding, “He’s delivering consistent performances, and the way he scores those runs shows he could definitely handle the demands of opening the batting for England.”