Rew on – James Rew is on standby for a potential Test debut at Lord’s against New Zealand after Jacob Bethell returned home early from the IPL with a left ring finger injury. England will determine Bethell’s availability ahead of the June 4 start, with Rew—spare in the
The clock is already ticking toward June 4 at Lord’s, and England now have a clear decision to make on Jacob Bethell’s availability after a finger injury derailed his IPL run.
Bethell returned home early from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru camp after hurting his left ring finger diving on the boundary in Ahmedabad a week ago. The ECB said it would “determine his availability” for the first Test at Lord’s, which starts on June 4.
England’s management remain hopeful Bethell will recover in time. If he does. he can take his place at No 3 and continue the work he began with a sparkling 154 against Australia at Sydney in January—his most recent red-ball innings. But if the finger injury proves slower to settle than expected. England’s reshuffle would come quickly. and the opportunity would land on James Rew.
Rew is the spare batsman in England’s 15-man squad and is on standby for a Test debut against New Zealand at Lord’s next week. At 22. it would be his first outing in the format. and it would also open the door to him batting in England’s top order—potentially at No 3—if Bethell does not make the cut.
That chance is not arriving out of nowhere. Rew has averaged nearly 48 for Somerset in Division One of the Championship this season. and he already has 12 first-class centuries to his name. He usually bats at No 4, though his most recent hundred, against Nottinghamshire at Taunton in April, came at No 3.
The situation takes on extra pressure because England are not just guarding against one absence. If Bethell fails to recover. England would head into a match against a threatening New Zealand seam attack with two debutants in their top order. Durham’s uncapped Emilio Gay is already pencilled in to open with Ben Duckett.
England’s recent history at No 3 also puts Rew at the front of the queue. Joe Root has come in 60 times at No 3, but he has never enjoyed the position and has batted there only once in the last four years. That leaves Rew as England’s likeliest first drop if Bethell does not play.
Rew’s own start to this campaign, however, has included a reminder that the adjustment can be sharp at international level. When moved up the order to open the batting for a brief experiment against Glamorgan at Cardiff, he made four and nought.
What will matter now is not what England tried in practice, but what happens after the medical assessment—because a finger injury suffered in Ahmedabad could decide whether England’s No 3 slot is filled by Bethell’s recovery or by Rew’s first Test steps.
James Rew Jacob Bethell Lord's England vs New Zealand Test debut finger injury IPL Royal Challengers Bengaluru ECB statement Somerset Emilio Gay