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The Rew Brothers: An Appreciation by Sam Dalling

Journalist and SCCC commentator, Sam Dalling has enjoyed watching the rise of the Brothers Rew:

A cricketing pair is rarely a positive. As an achievement, it has left many a batter scarlet faced. But then sometimes there are the good pairs, the glorious ones, causes for celebration. Take James and Thomas Rew, for example: it is impossible now to think of one sibling without the other. 

That has been the case for several summers, which, when properly considered, is somewhat odd. Sure, both are, at the time of typing, with the England Lions in Australia. However, as recently as mid 2025, James was dutifully notching First Class hundred after First Class hundred, while Thomas was yet to sit a meaningful exam, let alone play professional cricket.

And yet they were inextricably linked even before Thomas’ First XI debut. Not just because of their mutual blood, but because of their sporting talent.  Talk about pressure, eh? The whole cricketing world – or at least the universe that exists in the West Country, which is basically the same thing! – assumed Thomas would bat long and prosper before he’d even qualified for a National Insurance number.

However, for those fortunate enough to have witnessed each of them bat in person, it is immediately obvious why the noise has rapidly loudened. It is plainly clear why the duo’s Taunton St. Andrews teammate anointed them the GOAT (Greatest of all time) and Baby GOAT respectively.

Somerset have a little history with cricketing brothers. There are the Tregos, Peter and Sam. The former is – as painful as it is to admit as a commentary colleague – a Club legend, with the latter on the staff briefly. The same can be said about the Parsons, Keith and Kevin, and the Turners, Rob and Simon. John and Simon Francis were both imported in the noughties; while ticking further back you’ll find the Palmers, the late Ken and Roy. To date, the most successful though, are the Overtons, with the pair sharing 42 England caps and counting.

Could they be surpassed by the Rews? It seems likely. 

It was up in Chester-le-Street that they were first glimpsed together.  Sort of. Thomas had just signed a summer deal, while James was with the England Test squad ahead of the Zimbabwe game at Trent Bridge.

Ultimately, James was released so travelled north to play for Somerset, but, having taken a blow to the finger batting, Thomas had the gloves in the second innings. He looked like a child in his stockier big brother’s shirt but kept very tidily indeed.

What a relief for parents Chris and Debbie, eh? Whereas usually they split their time, they were able to enjoy a joint trip.  Then came the 50-over competition, during which both brothers flourished. Because of the age gap, they had rarely played together before that tournament, but Somerset will hope that, in a decade or two’s time, they will have stepped onto a cricket field in unison hundreds of times.

James will only just have turned 22 by the time the 2026 summer rolls around. He has 11 First Class hundreds already, having made headlines in May 2025 for being youngest since Denis Compton to notch ten of them in red-ball cricket. Quite good company that, right?

James is a generational talent and yet eyes seem to have switched to Thomas, who spent a decent chunk of last summer skippering England Under-19s. During that time, he racked up their quickest ever white ball century (131 from 89 balls against India).

His winter with the Lions came about despite not yet having made his First Class debut. What Thomas did do, though, was reach 50 against an England attack operating at near full tilt in what was their only pre-Ashes warm-up, leading to his selection in the opening game of the Lions tour. 

There is something remarkable about his temperament, the ease in which he has adapted to professional cricket.  He is like a river that remains undisturbed despite a cannon ball or three being dropped into it. Following his unbeaten 84 against Durham in the One-Day Cup, Scott Borthwick of the opposition described Thomas as the best youngster he had set eyes upon. Borthwick has seen a few.

Much has already been written about James, and there is much more to come.

There is a danger of getting too hyped up, of heaping too much pressure on young shoulders, but the sense is that both can cope. There is a humility to the pair and an apparent ability to block it all out. They still live at home with their parents and are just enjoying life with their mates. That the aforesaid life happens to be within the confines of professional sport is neither there nor here to them. Somerset are lucky to have them. Long may it continue.