England fast-tracks teenage star Thomas Rew for Australia tour

Eighteen-year-old Thomas Rew has earned his maiden call-up for England after being selected for the white-ball tour of Australia next month. Jacob Bethell is also fit to return after a knee injury, though Brydon Carse remains frozen out.

Coming after the upcoming tri-series in Pakistan, the four-week trip features three one-day internationals and five Twenty20s. Fast bowlers Jofra Archer, Josh Tongue, Gus Atkinson and Sonny Baker will play in the ODIs starting on 13 November before turning their attention to the Test tour of South Africa.

Jos Buttler's ongoing absence following hamstring surgery has led to a fresh-faced T20 squad with Somerset's Rew, a promising wicketkeeper-batter, one of four uncapped players. Henry Crocombe and James Coles will continue on from Pakistan, and Hampshire quick Eddie Jack gets his first chance.

While captain Harry Brook, Jordan Cox, and Bethell are down to play in both series and then bounce straight into the South Africa Tests, the mid-tour exodus of England's frontline quicks shows the importance of the ODIs a year out from the World Cup. Other than Buttler, the 50-over side will be at full strength.

Brendon McCullum appears willing to dilute a T20 team that is currently flying results-wise in order to assist the Test set-up he no longer runs. None of this is enough to earn Carse a recall, however, with the fast bowler still awaiting the outcome of his disciplinary following his brief arrest in Derby back in August.

Instead, youngsters like Jack and Crocombe will get the chance to acclimatise to international cricket. Jack is a favourite of the Lions and earned an England development contract, while Crocombe is due to swap Sussex for Surrey this winter.

Thomas Rew is the most eye-catching pick at just 18 years of age, coming 24 hours after earning his first development contract. The right-hander, younger brother of James Rew who made his Test debut in June, already has two centuries in four first-class appearances.

Were he to make his T20I debut in Australia, Thomas Rew would become the third-youngest man to represent England after Rehan Ahmed and Brian Close. Rehan Ahmed misses out here and will likely tour the Caribbean with the England Lions.