Thomas Rew named England Lions captain at 18 for West Indies tour

Thomas Rew has been appointed England Lions captain at 18, adding another international responsibility to a week that has already brought his first senior England call-up and a central contract. BBC Sport reported that the Somerset wicketkeeper-batter will lead the Lions in three T20 matches against West Indies A in St Kitts and Nevis in November. His older brother James is also in the squad.

The BBC said Rew is thought to be the youngest captain in the Lions' history, although it did not present that distinction as definitive. His appointment follows England's decision earlier this week to give him a developmental deal and select him for the senior T20 series in Australia. The Caribbean assignment therefore adds a leadership role to his upcoming involvement with the full England side.

Rew has already captained England Under-19s to the World Cup final this year. During the subsequent summer, he registered the first two centuries of his first-class career for Somerset. Those milestones preceded the latest selections, which will take him from county cricket and the age-group international side into both the Lions programme and a senior England touring squad.

He will not turn 19 until 29 November. According to the BBC, an appearance on the senior Australia tour would make him England's third-youngest male debutant across all formats, behind Rehan Ahmed and Brian Close. It would also make him the youngest man to represent England against Australia. Both distinctions remain conditional on him playing; selection alone does not give him a senior international appearance.

The Lions tour has separate captaincy arrangements for its two formats. After the three T20s, West Indies A and the Lions will contest five one-day matches, with Dan Lawrence leading England's squad for that series. Rew has been included in the one-day group as well, alongside James, while Rehan Ahmed and Hampshire seamer Eddie Jack are among the other players selected for both parts of the visit.

Lawrence and seamer Sam Cook will use the one-day assignment to prepare for England's three Tests in South Africa in December, the BBC reported. Former England batter Jonathan Trott will oversee the Lions' winter tours following Andrew Flintoff's departure as head coach.