The question of who will make the England Test side this summer has been hotly debated, with former captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain weighing in on the potential impact of Somerset’s rising star James Rew in the County Championship. Rew, a 22‑year‑old left‑handed batsman, is currently the second‑most prolific run‑scorer in the domestic competition, trailing only Jamie Smith. Yet the established England middle order – featuring Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes – appears largely set, leaving the young Somerset player to consider an alternative pathway: opening the innings for his county and, by extension, for England.
At present, Rew’s impressive tally of runs in the Championship has drawn attention from the national selectors, but his route into the Test XI is not straightforward. The current England top order is under pressure, with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett struggling for form. Atherton, speaking on the latest Sky Sports Cricket podcast, noted that while Rew is "getting lots of runs and playing really well," the middle‑order slots are effectively locked. "You’re not going to get in the middle order," he said, suggesting that the only realistic opening would be for Rew to take a spot at the top of the order.
"I don’t see Crawley getting picked, so there could be a vacancy there." Hussain, who captained England from 1999 to 2003, added another layer to the discussion. He referenced former Glamorgan player‑turned‑journalist Steve James, who argued that Rew should be "knocking on the door at Somerset and asking them to open the batting".
Hussain warned that Somerset might be reluctant to lose a key batsman to the national side, but he also stressed that opening is a specialist role that cannot be filled lightly. "If they start losing players to England, that changes the balance for the county," he said. "Opening is a specialist position." Both former captains highlighted the difficulty of fitting a new opener into an already settled England lineup. Atherton recalled the experiment of moving Dan Lawrence up the order, which had not yielded the desired results, and suggested that any change would need to be carefully managed.
He emphasized that a player must be accustomed to batting in the top three for his county before being considered for a similar role at the international level. "I wouldn’t be shoving Root in from the middle order if that’s where he’s staying," Atherton argued.
"Ideally for a young player, he would be batting in the top three." The statistical picture underscores Rew’s case. In the current season, Jamie Smith leads with 396 runs at an average of 99.00, while Rew sits close behind with 379 runs at 75.80.
Other notable performers include Tom Abell (337 runs, 56.16), Joe Clarke (273 runs, 68.25) and Oliver Cox (266 runs, 88.66). These numbers illustrate that Rew is not merely a flash in the pan; he is consistently delivering high scores against quality bowling attacks. Beyond the batting discussion, Atherton used the podcast to spotlight a handful of bowlers who could also influence England’s selection decisions.
He praised Sussex’s Henry Crocombe as an emerging fast bowler and highlighted Sam Cook’s potential despite a modest showing in his recent Test debut. "Cook is 28 and should be in his prime for the next two or three years," Athlett said, suggesting that his skill set could be valuable for England’s seam attack.
He also mentioned the competition from Ollie Robinson and Matt Fisher, indicating that the England bowling department remains highly contested. The broader context of the County Championship also matters. The 2026 season features a packed schedule of fixtures and a competitive table that sees both Division One and Division Two teams fighting for promotion and survival. Somerset’s performance this year has been solid, largely thanks to Rew’s contributions at the top of the order.
If the county were to lose him to England, they would need to find a suitable replacement, perhaps by promoting Bethell or another younger prospect. Fans can follow the ongoing debate and the latest updates on Sky Sports’ cricket coverage, including live streams of the Surrey vs Essex match and the upcoming England home series against New Zealand, which kicks off on June 4 at Lord’s.
For those without a Sky subscription, the matches are also available contract‑free on NOW, ensuring that the conversation around Rew’s potential Test debut remains accessible to a wide audience. In summary, James Rew’s prolific run‑scoring has placed him firmly on the radar of England’s selectors, but the path to a Test cap is complicated by an entrenched middle order and the specialist nature of opening in the international arena. Both Atherton and Hussain agree that Rew must prove himself as a top‑three batsman at the county level before England can comfortably slot him into the Test side.
Whether Somerset will allow their star to move up the ladder, and whether the England board will create a space for him at the top of the order, remain open questions as the season progresses. The next few weeks, particularly the lead‑up to the New Zealand series, will be crucial in determining whether Rew can turn his domestic success into a genuine England Test opportunity.