England vs Zimbabwe: James Rew earns maiden Test call-up as Jordan Cox is ruled out with abdominal injury
Jordan Cox misses out on the possibility of making his Test debut in England's one-off match against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge from May 22-25 - live on Sky Sports - due to an abdominal injury; the 24-year-old was also denied a debut on the winter tour of New Zealand after breaking his thumb
Thursday 8 May 2025 12:02, UK
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.
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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.
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)
Who is England's latest Test call up James Rew?
Rew's England call-up is a first for the Somerset wicketkeeper-batter, who has been in outstanding form for Somerset in this year's County Championship, averaging 54.21, including a highest score of 152.
The 21-year-old became the youngest Englishman since Denis Compton in 1939 to reach 10 first-class centuries after his match-winning 116 in the second-innings against Essex last week.
A former England U19 international, serving as an ever-present during their run to the U19 World Cup final in 2022, Rew also toured Australia with the England Lions last winter.
His breakout season for Somerset came in 2023 when topping 1,000 runs in the County Championship for the first time, scoring five centuries - including a career-best 221 against Hampshire at Taunton.
Ben Curran in Zimbabwe squad; Ballance a coaching consultant
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.
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.
