Statistics are ubiquitous in modern sport. But occasionally, one comes along that leaves you as stunned as a batter on the receiving end of a rearing Mark Wood snorter delivered at 95mph.
Back in May 2025, James Rew – no Brylcreem in sight – became the youngest player since Denis Compton to score 10 first-class centuries.
English cricket’s original poster boy, not to mention Arsenal regular, had achieved the feat 86 years earlier, in 1939.
Since breaking the post-war record, the 22-year-old Rew has added two more centuries to that tally. On Friday, he comes up against another potential England star in the making: Ben Mayes – even younger at just 18 – as Somerset head to Southampton to take on Hampshire in the County Championship.
What a way to move to 50!! James Rew you are some player LIVE STREAM t.co/aRtGCP76ez#WeAreSomerset#SOMvKEN pic.twitter.com/6OVs4K7tiC
— Somerset Cricket (@SomersetCCC) May 17, 2024In the not-too-distant future, the pair could be occupying two spaces in England’s top six, not simply because they fit the Bazball mould, but because both are as talented as any young cricketers in the game in 2026.
“Both of these guys look to have the world at their feet,” says Somerset coach Jason Kerr. “Look at Rewy; he has done it year-on-year. He has scored 12 hundreds and should probably have gone back-to-back in the first game of the season against Nottinghamshire, when he scored 64 and 122 at Taunton.
“He’s an incredible talent – mature beyond his years.”
Around two hours east – give or take another traffic jam at Stonehenge on the A303 – an equally exciting young cricketer is announcing his arrival in Division One.
A quite superb knock on debut from Ben Mayes pic.twitter.com/N6Jb0k7SwJ
— Metro Bank One Day Cup (@onedaycup) August 5, 2025By any reckoning, the distance from the wickets on Hampshire’s nursery ground – which sits adjacent to the club’s Utilita Bowl square – to the Colin Ingleby-MacKenzie stand is a fair distance.
It’s certainly further than most ordinary mortals could consider hitting a cricket ball.
“Mayesy just switch-hit the straight over it in middle practice,” says Jimmy Adams, Hampshire’s batting coach.
“The ball just flew. It was one of those moments where everyone just stopped what they were doing and took a minute.”
‘Turns out he’s quite good at keeping!’
Mayes broke into the Hampshire side during last summer’s Metro Bank One Day Cup and gave notice of his talent, not only through his run-scoring – he scored 230 runs at an average of 32 – but through his wicketkeeping.
“I had seen him keep wicket once, twice max, before the summer,” says Richard Dibden, the former Hampshire spinner who worked with Mayes at Southern Premier League club Totton & Eling. “Turns out he’s quite good at it.”
He’s not wrong. While that route to the first team in red-ball cricket is currently blocked by Hampshire captain Ben Brown, Mayes could easily be entrusted with the gloves when the T20 Blast begins next month.
After a tough opener against Essex, Mayes looked much more at home in the recent victory at Headingley, hitting a brisk 39 before a five-ball cameo in the second innings preceded Hampshire’s declaration.
Rew’s Somerset arrive at the Utilita Bowl unbeaten, having comfortably beaten Essex at Chelmsford following a draw with Notts. In Rew, they have one of the most in-form batters in the country.
Ben Mayes impressed at the Under-19 Cricket World Cup this winter (Photo: Getty)Having already established himself behind the stumps for Somerset, Kerr believes it won’t be long before England come knocking.
“It’s a measure of how well he [Rew] is keeping that people aren’t even talking about it,” Kerr says. “When he first came into the side, he was a keeper-batter at six to look after him physically. He has moved up to four now and his keeping is getting better and better.
“I’ve no doubt that Rewy, if he got the opportunity with England, would find a way to make it work. I think it’s tough on Jamie Smith – he’s an incredible talent as a batter – but asking him to keep when he’s not doing it regularly in domestic cricket is a huge ask.
“Someone like Rewy, who is fulfilling both roles, is certainly an option.
“As for Mayes, I saw him in the winter for the England Under-19s and he looks a real talent. I’m looking forward to seeing him up close – although, hopefully, not for too long.”
What happens, he needn’t worry. This pair are going to be around for years.
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