The Rew brothers have followed an almost identical trajectory up to now and their paths do not seem to be diverging any time soon.

James made his Somerset debut in 2022, a year before younger brother Thomas joined the club’s academy.

In 2023, he enjoyed a breakthrough season for the club, scoring more than 1,000 County Championship runs, becoming Somerset’s youngest first-class double centurion and ending the campaign as the Professional Cricket Association’s men’s young player of the year.

As Thomas has just done, James also reached the U19 World Cup final with England in 2022 and in May last year he was called up to the England Test squad for the first time but did not play in the game against Zimbabwe.

While with the Lions in November, he scored an unbeaten 92 during the win over a Prime Minister’s XI

“It seems to have all happened quite quickly in the last year or so, to be picked on a Lions tour together is really cool,” James said.

“To be working with Freddie Flintoff, playing against Aussie A and the England Test team was unbelievable.”

Somerset begin their County Championship campaign at home to Nottinghamshire on Friday and Thomas said seeing his brother play has only increased his desire to do the same.

“Watching James and the team play over the last few years has made me more hungry and to go out there and win competitions,” Thomas said.