“I absolutely love it here!” – Three more years for James
Somerset wicketkeeper/batter, James Rew has pledged his future to Somerset County Cricket Club by signing a three-year contract extension.
The 22-year-old’s existing deal was due to expire at the end of the forthcoming season, but he has signed an extension which will see him remain at the Cooper Associates County Ground until at least the end of the 2029 campaign.
Former King’s College student James, who plays his club cricket for Taunton St Andrews, joined the Somerset Player Pathway at Under 10 level before making his way through the Emerging Player Programme and Somerset Academy.
His impressive performances for Somerset Second XI saw him named in the County Select squad for a three-day match against India in July 2021, and he made his Somerset debut against Yorkshire in the Royal London Cup the following month. His eye-catching form then saw him named in the England squad for the Under 19 World Cup, where he played a starring role as the Young Lions reached the final.
James, whose family moved to the West Country from London when he was four years old, has thrived since making his Somerset debut, going on to make 94 appearances for the Club across the formats scoring over 4800 runs and claiming 191 dismissals. He has made 14 centuries with a top score of 221 against Hampshire in the County Championship.
2023’s PCA Young Player of the Year and Somerset Player of the Year, James has continued to progress and develop, and he has become a regular for England Lions and was called into the England Test squad for last summer’s series against Zimbabwe. This winter also saw James appear in white ball franchise cricket for the first time when he was selected by the ILT20’s Sharjah Warriors.
In 2025 James was named Captain of the Club’s Metro Bank One Day Cup side and played his part in the team’s successful Vitality Blast campaign.
After signing his new contract, James said: “I’m very happy to have extended my contract at Somerset. I absolutely love it here and it’s the best club in the world in my opinion. There’s nowhere else I’d want to play. To play in front of our Members and supporters with this group of players in just incredible and it’s something that I wouldn’t change for anything.
“We want to continue to win trophies over the next few years. We want to remain dominant in white ball cricket, and we all want to win that elusive County Championship. Winning the Championship would be everything for me and there’s a lot of people here who would say exactly the same thing.
“It’s great to play here in front of our Members and supporters in both white ball and red ball cricket because they create the best atmosphere no matter which format we’re playing. It’s just a lovely place to play cricket.”
Somerset Director of Cricket, Andy Hurry added. “James has become an integral element of the First Team across all formats. His performances on the field alongside his dedication to his craft epitomise everything that you want in a professional cricketer.
“It’s easy to forget that he is still a young man as he displays such calmness and maturity in high-pressure situations. We very much look forward to the opportunity to continue to support his development and the impact he will have on the team over the next few years.
“His love for the Club is plain for all to see, and I know for a fact that our Members and supporters will be delighted that he has committed his future to Somerset.”
