Somerset’s James Rew has earned a maiden England Test call-up after Jordan Cox was ruled out of this month’s one-off match against Zimbabwe.
Cox was forced to retire hurt with an abdominal injury after scoring a century for Essex in their most recent County Championship match against Somerset.
Named in England’s initial 13-player squad, the 24-year-old has now been ruled out and replaced by Rew for the upcoming Zimbabwe Test at Trent Bridge from May 22-25, live on Sky Sports.
Jordan Cox misses the opportunity to make his England Test debut after picking up an abdominal injury while batting for Essex in the County Championship
Cox was also denied a Test debut on the three-Test tour of New Zealand over the winter after breaking his thumb in the nets when poised to deputise for Jamie Smith – who was on paternity leave – as wicketkeeper-batter for Ben Stokes’ team.
Rew’s call-up is a first for the 21-year-old batter, who has been in outstanding form for Somerset in this year’s County Championship, averaging 54.21, including a highest score of 152.
England’s sole Test against Zimbabwe is followed by five at home to India, starting at Headingley on June 20, with the next Ashes series in Australia looming thereafter from November 21, beginning in Perth.
England Test squad to face Zimbabwe: Ben Stokes (Durham) – captain, Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Shoaib Bashir (Somerset), Harry Brook (Yorkshire), Sam Cook (Essex), Zak Crawley (Kent), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Ollie Pope (Surrey), Matthew Potts (Durham), James Rew (Somerset), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Jamie Smith (Surrey), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)
Zimbabwe have also announced their 15-player squad for the Test match at Trent Bridge, to be led by 39-year-old captain Craig Ervine, with Ben Curran – the brother of England internationals Sam and Tom – also included as a top-order batter.
Former England batter Gary Ballance will also be in the opposing dressing room for the Test match, having been appointed as a coaching consultant for Zimbabwe.
Former England batter Gary Ballance has been appointed as a coaching consultant for Zimbabwe
Zimbabwe-born Ballance moved to the UK as a teenager and, after impressing for Yorkshire, featured in 23 Tests and 16 ODIs for England between 2013 and 2017, helping his adopted nation win the 2015 Ashes.
After being implicated in the Yorkshire racism scandal in 2021, Ballance started afresh with Zimbabwe but made only a further seven international appearances for them before retiring in 2023.
Zimbabwe Test squad to face England: Craig Ervine – captain, Brian Bennett, Ben Curran, Trevor Gwandu, Clive Madande, Wessly Madhevere, Wellington Masakadza, Blessing Muzarabani, Richard Ngarava, Newman Nyamhuri, Victor Nyauchi, Sikandar Raza, Tafadzwa Tsiga, Nicholas Welch, Sean Williams
Watch England’s one-off, four-day Test against Zimbabwe, live on Sky Sports Cricket from 10am (11am first ball) on Thursday May 22.
