SOMERSET’S young wicketkeeper-batter Thomas Rew has been named as the captain for the England Men U19s during the upcoming Youth ODI cricket tri-series against Scotland Men U19s and Ireland Men U19s at Loughborough.

The talented Rew, who is 16 years old, has played up through the Somerset Pathway age groups and is currently a member of the county’s Academy, will lead a Young Lions team that only includes three other capped players - Harry Moore, Sebastian Morgan and Alex Green.

Richard Halsall will step in as Head Coach in the absence of Mike Yardy, who will be part of the England Men coaching team during the forthcoming white-ball series against Australia. He said this week: “It gives us an opportunity to expose more young players to international cricket in this series.

He added: “I am really looking forward to taking over the reins as coach from Yardy. We know we will need to compete from ball one against Ireland and Scotland and I am looking forward to seeing the squad show off their skills in this series.”

Meanwhile, Fin Hill, an 18 year old batter who also bowls off spin, has signed a two year contract after graduating from the Somerset Academy. 

Fin, who hails from Exeter, has been at King’s College, and first played for the Second XI in 2022 before ,making his First XI debut in the Metro Bank One Day Cup last season. Lewis Goldsworthy, another former Academy youngster who has gone onto make his mark in the first team, has signed an extension to his contract that will see him remaining at Taunton until at least the end of the 2026 season.

The 24 year old has featured in 81 matches for Somerset across the three formats, scoring more than 2,700 runs and claiming 50 wickets.

Earlier in the season Goldsworthy spent a few weeks on loan at Leicestershire where he enjoyed success with both bat and ball, something that has continued since he returned.

Jason Kerr, the Somerset Head Coach, has also extended his contract for a further two years. Kerr, who made his debut for the Cidermen as a player in 1993 and remained with the club until 2001 before a year later his career was ended by a shoulder injury.

Kerr returned to Somerset in charge of the Academy and the Second XI in 2005, since when he has gone onto become bowling coach in 2015 and then head coach.