Somerset’s James Rew has barely had time to unpack his bags after returning from a three-week training camp in South Africa before jetting off with the England Lions for Australia in the near future.
The wicket-keeper batter, who will celebrate his 21st birthday on January 11, talked about his time in South Africa.
He said: “It was a three-week training camp with a large group of the Lions players and most of the time we had middle practices facing the Lions bowlers and I was able to practise my keeping as well.
“It was very beneficial because it wasn’t just netting.
“I feel like you get a lot more out of facing bowlers out in the middle, and it was against some of the next best bowlers in England so I got a lot out of it.
“We were training at a club ground but the wickets were pretty good, quite bouncy, a bit more than we are used to, and a little bit of the usual nip with the new ball, but nothing too different except the bounce was the main thing.
“We played one game against South Africa A, which was at a different club to where we had been training.
“It was a difficult wicket, a classic club wicket, but the occasional one just bounced as well, which was a common theme.
“It was difficult to score as the outfield was quite slow and the pitch nipped quite a lot.
“They had a very good seam attack and just out-bowled us really, including Corbin Bosch who has just made his Test debut for South Africa.
“I was down to bat number three but Ben McKinney, our opener, did his finger so I got shifted up top which I’m not really used to but quite enjoyed the challenge.
“It was very different, but against the Kookaburra ball it’s not quite like facing a Dukes.
“They had a couple of quick bowlers so it was hard work up top. I didn’t do particularly well but enjoyed the challenge.”
Rew also got seven catches in the match.
He continued: “I got a few nice little nicks as well.
“I got back from South Africa about 10 days before Christmas and have just enjoyed some down time with the family – Thomas is also home as well, and then we both jet off to different places after Christmas, so it was good to spend a bit of time with him.”
Rew and his younger brother Thomas were out in South Africa at the same time and managed to catch up on one occasion during their stay.
Rew then talked about his upcoming trip.
“I’m leaving on Thursday afternoon to go to the airport and we have an early flight to Brisbane on 3rd January.
“We have got two games in Brisbane and then towards the end of the tour we transfer to Sydney to play one game after which we come back home on 4th or 5th of February.
“Thomas goes on January 9th they have a month tour in South Africa.”
There will be a distinctly Somerset feel about the Lions trip to Australia because Shoaib Bashir and Sonny Baker are also in the squad.
“I haven’t seen Bash to spend any time with in ages, in fact since he’s been playing in bigger and better games and Test cricket for England, so it will be good to be going on tour with him.
“I haven’t seen Sonny for a while either so it will be good to spend some time with the Somerset boys again.
“Although Sonny has now joined Hampshire I have played a lot of age group and Second XI cricket with him as well as at King’s.”
What was Rew hoping to get from the Lions trip to Australia?
“It will nice to beat them first of all. The first two games are not Australia A teams because of the Big Bash but hopefully we will be playing against Renners (Matt Renshaw) at some point which should be quite good fun as well.
“I have already told him that I will be in Brisbane to catch up with him which will be great.
“Everyone enjoys Renners, he is great fun to be around and it would be nice to have him back at some point in the future because he is a very talented batsman and whenever he has played for us he has done well.”
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