New Zealand holds a commanding 352-run lead over England after day three of the second Test at The Kia Oval. Henry Nicholls scored a superb century, while England's fielding struggles, including dropped catches by debutant James Rew, hampered their efforts. Ben Stokes' absence continues to be felt.
Jamie Smith will miss England's second Test against New Zealand due to the birth of his daughter. James Rew, 22, will debut as wicketkeeper and bat at number seven, with Jordan Cox and Sonny Baker also making their Test debuts. This marks five changes to the England XI.
England will hand Test debuts to Jordan Cox and Sonny Baker for the second match against New Zealand at the Oval. Matthew Fisher returns, and Jofra Archer is back after a break. Joe Root will captain the side in Ben Stokes's absence due to a team curfew breach.
Jonny Bairstow scored a century as Yorkshire faced Surrey at Headingley. Across the County Championship, various teams competed in Division One and Two, with notable performances from Adam Lyth, Ben Kellaway, and Sam Northeast amidst a busy day of domestic cricket.
England's Test squad selection, including Emilio Gay and James Rew, reflects a promise to value domestic performance. However, head coach Brendon McCullum's evolving methods, with an expanded support staff and focus on performance, raise questions about his original philosophy.
England announces a 15-man squad for the first Test against New Zealand, featuring uncapped players Emilio Gay, James Rew, and Sonny Baker, alongside Ollie Robinson's return after a two-year absence.
England recalls Ollie Robinson after a two-year international hiatus and introduces uncapped trio Emilio Gay, James Rew, and Sonny Baker for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's, starting June 4.
Updates on day three from the latest round of games Sign up for The Spin newsletter | Mail Tanya or post BTLEighteen-year-old Tom Norton charged about Sophia Gardens chased by cock-a-hoop Glamorgan teammates, who clapped his back and rubbed his beard, as he became the youngest County Championship debutant to take a hat-trick, ruining Somerset’s innings in the process. Norton first removed James Rew for a duck, in what will count as a failed experiment to push him up the order, before Tom Lammonby pecked behind and Archie Vaughan doddered in front of his stumps.“I don’t think I can put it into words to be honest. It’s the most mental 45 minutes I’ve ever had on a cricket field,” said Norton, the first championship debutant to take a hat-trick since 1906. Continue reading...
The shot has been described as the purest expression of batting and a destroyer of innings, matches and careersTaunton, 3 April 2026. Somerset are hosting Nottinghamshire, the defending county champions, in their first fixture of the new season and are 20 for two having been sent into bat. It’s murky and cold. The batters wear cable-knit sweaters and the spectators in the crowd have wisely decided not to eschew their winter coats. Plenty peer out at the action from under tightly drawn hoods.The hulking Notts fast bowler Dillon Pennington steams in towards Somerset’s James Rew. The pitch is lush and only a shade less green than the uncut strips either side, more “Shrek’s forehead” than “Kermit’s belly” in cricket’s internationally recognised Pitch Greenness Scale™ . By August it will be paler, baked and cracked – you guessed it, “Yoda’s shin”. For now, though, the conditions suggest everything is in the fielding side’s favour. Rew taps his bat and blinks towards the bowler. Continue reading...
James Rew's start to the season makes him a strong contender for an England call-up, but how would he fit into the Test team?
James Rew's unbeaten 58 guided Somerset to 139-3, needing 148 runs to beat Hampshire in Southampton. At Edgbaston, Essex need 195 runs to win despite Sam Cook's five-wicket haul. In Division Two, Middlesex hold a 41-run lead over Northants, while Lancashire chase 201 against Gloucestershire.
James Rew passes 50 for the fourth time in five County Championship innings as Somerset put themselves on course to beat Hampshire.
