The conversation about who might earn a place in England's Test side has taken a fresh turn, with former captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain weighing in on the remarkable form of Somerset's James Rew in the County Championship. Rew, only 22, has emerged as one of the most prolific run‑scorers in the domestic game, yet the established England middle order—anchored by Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes—appears to be set in stone. Consequently, the most realistic pathway for the left‑handed batsman may be to force his way into the England opening slot, potentially displacing the under‑performing Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett.
Rew's tally in the Championship is second only to Jamie Smith, and his consistency has sparked speculation about how England might accommodate him for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's on 4 June. On a recent episode of the Sky Sports Cricket podcast, Atherton observed, "James Rew is piling up runs and looking superb.
The middle order is essentially locked, so the only realistic opening for him is at the top of the order. I doubt Crawley will make the XI, which leaves a vacancy that Rew could fill." He added that the dilemma extends beyond pure statistics: "There is always a tension between what a county wants for its own success and what England needs for its long‑term development.
Finding the right balance is tricky." Former England skipper Nasser Hussain echoed similar sentiments, citing a comment from ex‑England and Glamorgan player‑turned‑journalist Steve James: "Rew should be knocking on Somerset's door, asking to open the innings. If he continues to dominate at number four, the county could simply say, 'We’ll do what’s best for us.'" Hussain warned that Somerset would have to weigh the risk of losing a player to international duty: "Opening is a specialist role. If Somerset start losing players to England, they need to think carefully about the impact on their own campaign." The discussion then drifted to historical precedents. "Mark Butcher opened at three, Alec Stewart did it too, and you have the Lancashire example," Hussain noted.
"They tried Dan Lawrence in the middle order and it didn’t work, but Rew’s numbers are impossible to ignore. He plays late on the ball, finds gaps, and consistently scores." Both pundits debated whether moving Bethell up the order and slotting Rew at three could be a solution. The obstacle, they argued, is Root’s reluctance to shift from his comfortable position at four. "Root isn’t going anywhere," Hussain said, "so any reshuffle has to accommodate him." Atherton, who captained England at 25, stressed that a player usually needs to prove himself in the top three for his county before being trusted to open for the national side.
"I wouldn’t force Root down the order just to make room," he said. "The Dan Lawrence experiment showed that you can’t simply shuffle players without a clear plan. Ideally, Rew should be batting in the top three for Somerset first; that would make a case for him at the Test level." The statistical snapshot from the current Championship underlines the depth of talent: Jamie Smith leads with 396 runs at an average of 99.00, followed by James Rew’s 379 runs at 75.80, Tom Abell’s 337 at 56.16, Joe Clarke’s 273 at 68.25, Oliver Cox’s 266 at 88.66 and Ben Foakes’s 255 at a remarkable 127.50. These figures illustrate that while Rew is not the absolute top scorer, his consistency places him firmly among the elite.
Atherton also used the platform to highlight other emerging county performers ahead of the upcoming Surrey versus Essex clash, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket. He praised young fast bowler Sonny Baker for his pace and wicket‑taking ability, and Sussex’s Henry Crocombe for his steady development. Sam Cook received particular attention: despite a quiet debut Test, Atherton believes Cook’s skill set and age—28, entering his prime—make him a strong candidate for future England selections, especially when compared with contemporaries Ollie Robinson and Matt Fisher. The broader context of England’s summer schedule adds urgency to these discussions.
The home series against New Zealand, beginning on 4 June, will be the first of three Tests, and England will be eager to field a balanced side that can both attack and absorb pressure. If Rew can adapt to the demands of opening—facing the new ball, negotiating swing, and setting a platform for the middle order—he could provide the flexibility England currently lacks. In summary, while the existing middle order appears settled, the combination of Rew’s prolific run‑making, his left‑handed technique, and the potential vacancy at the top of the order creates a compelling case for his inclusion.
The decision will hinge on whether Somerset can accommodate his move to open, how England’s selectors weigh the need for stability versus fresh talent, and whether Rew can translate his county success into the rigour of Test cricket. The next few weeks, leading up to the Lord’s Test, will likely determine whether James Rew knocks on the door of England’s Test XI or remains a dominant force solely within the County Championship.