As England assess their options for the first Test against New Zealand during their training camp at Loughborough this week one thing should hopefully become clear to them: they cannot play James Rew at No 3 if Jacob Bethell is ruled out.
Rew, the only spare batter in the squad, edged closer to an unexpected Test debut at Lord’s next week after Bethell returned home early from the Indian Premier League with a finger injury.
Bethell, who made the No 3 position his own with a brilliant century in the final Ashes Test at Sydney in January, will have a scan on his damaged left ring finger on Tuesday.
England remain confident he will be fit for the first Test of the summer that starts on Thursday week.
James Rew has scored 478 runs in 10 innings batting predominantly in Somerset’s middle order (Photo: Getty)
