Thomas Rew announced captain of England for 2026 Under-19 World Cup

Somerset’s wicketkeeper-batsman Thomas Rew has been named captain of the England team.

Due to his engagement with the England Lions in Australia, the 18-year-old was unable to join the England Under-19s on their recent trip of the West Indies, where they lost 5-2.

England has not won the U-19 World Cup since 1998, when they beat New Zealand by seven wickets at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. They will have the opportunity to end the drought next year, in January and February, during the tournament’s 16th edition.

The highly ranked cricketer made his first-class debut for the Lions against Australia A earlier this month, scoring 19 and 47. He previously played for Somerset while still 17.

Thomas is the younger sibling of James Rew, another wicketkeeper-batsman who participated in the Lions trip – though Thomas was chosen to assume the gloves at Allan Border Field. In June, he set a new record for the fastest England U-19 century with a 73-ball blitzkrieg against India. James, 21, is presently competing in the International League T20 (ILT20) with the Sharjah Warriorz.

Thomas, on the other hand, has been signed by Paarl Royals as a temporary substitute for compatriot Dan Lawrence before the commencement of the SA20’s fourth season. The former will go to South Africa for a brief stint in the T20 tournament before joining his England colleagues for the U-19 World Cup, which begins January 15.

Farhan Ahmed, Nottinghamshire’s off-spinner and younger brother of England leg-spinner Rehan, has been selected Thomas’ deputy after leading the side in the Caribbean. The rest of the 15-member squad is essentially unchanged, with uncapped Leicestershire left-arm spinner Ali Farooq the lone newcomer for the World Cup.

I really want the players to enjoy the opportunity to play at a World Cup: England U-19 head coach

England U-19 head coach Mike Yardy urged his players to enjoy the opportunity of competing against some great teams and showcasing their skills on the big stage.

“This is an amazing opportunity for the players we have selected to not only wear an England shirt at a World Cup but also to go out and try and do something special,” Yardy was quoted as saying by.

“We have a balanced squad with a core group of players who already have county experience and who have developed a camaraderie while playing together for the U19s that will serve them well during the tournament. I really want the players to enjoy the opportunity to play at a World Cup, in a beautiful country like Zimbabwe, and to embrace the chance to compete against different countries and show their quality,” he added.