The question on every England fan's mind this summer is which county performers will earn a call‑up for the upcoming Test series. Two former captains, Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain, recently weighed in on the case of James Rew, a 22‑year‑old left‑handed batsman who has been lighting up the County Championship for Somerset.
Rew is currently the second‑most prolific run‑scorer in the competition, trailing only Jamie Smith, and his numbers – 379 runs at an impressive 75.80 average – have sparked serious debate about whether he deserves a place in the England Test side. At the moment England’s middle order appears to be set in stone. The established quartet of Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes has cemented its positions, leaving little room for newcomers in those slots. Consequently, Rew’s most realistic pathway to an England debut may lie in the opening slot.
Somerset have been flirting with the idea of promoting him to open the innings, a move that could provide a direct route to the national side and simultaneously give England a fresh option at the top of the order, especially if current openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett are deemed under‑performing. Atherton, speaking on the latest Sky Sports Cricket podcast, was blunt about the situation: "James Rew is scoring runs for a living, but the middle order is locked up. The only realistic opening in the England side looks like a vacancy, because I don’t see Crawley getting picked.
The real question is whether Rew can adapt to opening at the international level." He added that the balance between a county’s own ambitions and England’s developmental needs is a delicate one, noting that Somerset would have to weigh the benefits of keeping Rew at four against the national team’s desire for a left‑handed opener. Hussain, who captained England from 1999 to 2003, echoed similar sentiments. He referenced former Glamorgan player‑turned‑journalist Steve James, who suggested that Rew should be knocking on Somerset’s door to request an opening role. "If he continues to dominate at four, the county could simply say, ‘we’ll do what’s best for us,’" Hussain said, emphasizing that opening is a specialist position that requires a particular mindset and technique.
The discussion also turned to the broader implications for Somerset. If Rew were to be called up, the county could lose a key batsman at a crucial time in the Championship. Yet, Hussain argued that the long‑term benefit of having an England‑capped player could outweigh the short‑term loss, especially if it encourages other Somerset talents to step up.
Both former captains also touched on the historical context of England’s opening choices. Atherton recalled that former England captain Alec Stewart (nicknamed “Gaffer”) and later Mark Butcher had both opened the innings, suggesting that the role is not immutable. He warned against moving established players like Root down the order simply to make space: "I wouldn’t shove Root into the middle order if he’s comfortable there.
Dan Lawrence was tried at three and it didn’t work. You need a genuine opener, not a stop‑gap solution." Hussain raised a tactical scenario: could Bethell, who usually bats at three, be promoted to open, allowing Rew to slot in at three? The problem, he noted, is that Root is unlikely to abandon his preferred number‑four spot, making any reshuffle a complex puzzle for the England selectors.
Beyond the opening debate, Atherton used the platform to highlight other county performers who are catching his eye ahead of the Surrey‑vs‑Essex clash, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Cricket. He praised the promising pace of Sonny Baker, the developing swing of Henry Crocombe at Sussex, and the resilience of Sam Cook, who, despite a quiet debut at Edgbaston, remains a strong candidate for future Test selection.
Atherton also mentioned the competition Rew would face from established openers like Ollie Robinson and Matt Fisher, as well as the continued dominance of James Anderson in Division Two, where he leads Lancashire with a prolific wicket haul. In summary, James Rew stands at a crossroads.
His County Championship record is undeniable, and his left‑handed style could add balance to England’s top order. However, the entrenched middle order and the specialist nature of opening mean that his path to a Test cap will likely require a strategic shift either at Somerset or within the national side. If England decides to experiment with a new opening partnership for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s on June 4, Rew could very well find himself on the doorstep of a long‑awaited debut.
Until then, the conversation will continue on podcasts, in the press, and, most importantly, on the field where Rew must keep delivering the runs that have put him in this conversation in the first place.