The question of who will earn a place in England's Test side is heating up, and former captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain have weighed in on the rising Somerset batsman James Rew. Rew has emerged as the most prolific run‑getter in the County Championship this season, trailing only behind Jamie Smith in total runs.
At just 22 years old, his tally of 379 runs at an average of 75.80 has turned many heads, yet the pathway to an England call‑up is anything but straightforward. England's current middle order appears firmly entrenched. The likes of Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes have cemented their places, leaving little room for a newcomer in the heart of the batting line‑up.
Consequently, Rew's realistic route to the national team may lie at the top of the order, where England have been searching for a reliable opener to complement the existing combination and to provide a counter‑balance to the occasional frailties of Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. Atherton, speaking on the latest Sky Sports Cricket podcast, highlighted the paradox that Rew faces. "James Rew is scoring runs for a living and playing exceptionally well," he said, "but the middle order is locked up. You’re not going to break in there.
The opening slot, however, looks like a vacancy, especially if Crawley is left out of the XI. The real question is whether Rew can transition to opening at the international level." He added that the dilemma is not just about individual talent but also about the balance between county priorities and national requirements. "Somerset wants to win the Championship, and England wants to develop a player who can thrive at the highest level. Those two goals sometimes clash," Atherton explained.
Former England captain Nasser Hussain echoed similar concerns. He referenced a comment from former Glamorgan player‑turned‑journalist Steve James, who suggested that Rew should be knocking on Somerset's door to be promoted to an opening role.
"If he continues to dominate at number four, the county could simply say, ‘we’ll do what’s best for us’," Hussain said. "But we also have to consider the impact on Somerset if they start losing players to England.
Opening is a specialist position, and you can’t just reshuffle without consequences." Hussain went on to discuss the historical precedent of moving players around the top of the order. He cited Mark Butcher, who opened at three, and Alec Stewart, who frequently shifted between the top three positions.
"They tried moving Dan Lawrence into the middle order, and it didn’t work, but the point is that Rew is scoring heavily and playing with a late‑hit approach that could suit an opening role," Hussain noted. "Bethell has never opened in first‑class cricket, so could we move him up and slot Rew at three? The problem is Root’s reluctance to move from four, making the puzzle even more interesting." Atherton, who captained England at 25, stressed that to be considered for an opening berth at the national level, a player usually needs to have experience opening for his county.
"I wouldn’t push Root down the order just because there’s a vacancy. We tried that with Dan Lawrence and it wasn’t a success.
Ideally a player should be batting in the top three for his county before we think about him opening for England," he argued. "For a young aspirant, the only realistic route into the side at the moment is to be at the top of the order." The statistical backdrop underscores the debate. The leading run‑scorers in the Championship this season are: - Jamie Smith: 396 runs, average 99.00 - James Rew: 379 runs, average 75.80 - Tom Abell: 337 runs, average 56.16 - Joe Clarke: 273 runs, average 68.25 - Oliver Cox: 266 runs, average 88.66 - Ben Foakes: 255 runs, average 127.50 These numbers illustrate that Rew is not just a flash in the pan; he is consistently delivering high scores against quality opposition. Yet the step from county dominance to Test cricket is significant, especially when the England selectors must juggle form, experience, and team balance.
Beyond the batting discussion, Atherton also highlighted a few other county performers who could catch the eye of the England set‑up ahead of the upcoming Surrey versus Essex clash on Sky Sports Cricket. He praised the pace of Sonny Baker, the development of Sussex youngster Henry Crocombe, and the resilience of Sam Cook, who despite a quiet showing in his recent Test debut, remains a promising fast‑bowling prospect. "Cook is 28, entering his prime, and should be knocking on the door with wickets," Atherton said.
"He has competition from Ollie Robinson and Matt Fisher, but his skill set fits the English line‑bowling mould." The broader context is England's home summer, which kicks off with a three‑Test series against New Zealand at Lord’s on June 4. The selectors will be under pressure to field a side that can both win matches and nurture emerging talent.
If Rew does receive a call‑up, England will need to decide whether to slot him in at three, promote him to open, or perhaps keep him as a flexible option in the middle order—a decision that could reshape the batting hierarchy for years to come. In summary, James Rew has proven himself as the most prolific run‑scorer in the County Championship, second only to Jamie Smith. With England's middle order firmly set, his best chance lies in breaking into the opening partnership.
Both Atherton and Hussain acknowledge his talent but caution that the transition requires not only personal adaptation but also strategic alignment between Somerset's ambitions and England's long‑term plans. The upcoming weeks, especially the New Zealand series, will likely provide the first real test of whether Rew can convert his county success into a genuine England Test career.