Thomas Rew, a promising talent from Somerset, has been named the captain of the England Men's U19 team for their upcoming five-match Youth One-Day International series against India U19s. The series is scheduled to take place in England, with matches at historic venues across the country. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) announced the 15-member squad, which includes Worcestershire's Isaac Mohammed as the only uncapped player.
The series will begin on June 27 at the 1st Central County Ground in Hove, followed by matches in Northampton on June 30 and July 2, and Worcester on July 5 and 7. After the ODI series, the two teams will also compete in two four-day Youth Test matches in Beckenham (July 12-15) and Chelmsford (July 19-22).
The selection of Thomas Rew as captain reflects the faith the ECB has in his leadership abilities. Rew is the younger brother of James Rew, who captains England A, adding to the family's cricketing pedigree. The squad also includes Rocky Flintoff, son of former England captain and current England Lions head coach Andrew Flintoff.
England U19 head coach Mike Yardy expressed his excitement about the selected squad, highlighting the variety of white-ball skills within the team. He also noted that the majority of the players are eligible for the ICC Under-19 World Cup later this year, indicating a focus on developing players for future international competitions. Yardy acknowledged the challenge that the India U19 team will pose and emphasized the opportunity for the England players to perform both as a team and individually.
The India U19 team, led by Ayush Mhatre, is expected to provide strong competition. The tour coincides with visits from India's senior men's and women's teams, making it a significant period for Indian cricket in the UK.
England Men U19s squad for India U19 ODIs: Thomas Rew (Somerset – captain), Ralphie Albert (Surrey), Ben Dawkins (Kent), Jaydn Denly (Kent), Rocky Flintoff (Lancashire), Alex French (Surrey), Alex Green (Leicestershire), Jack Home (Worcestershire), James Isbell (Middlesex), Ben Mayes (Hampshire), James Minto (Durham), Isaac Mohammed (Worcestershire), Joseph Moores (Lancashire), Seb Morgan (Middlesex), Alex Wade (Yorkshire).
