The question on every cricket fan's mind this summer is which players will earn a place in England's Test side. Former captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain recently weighed in on the rising profile of James Rew, the 22‑year‑old left‑handed batsman who has been tearing up the County Championship for Somerset. Rew currently tops the run‑scoring charts, second only to Jamie Smith, and his form has sparked a lively debate about whether he could break into a middle order that already appears set with Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes.
At the moment the England middle order looks locked, which means Rew's most realistic pathway to a Test debut might be as an opener. Somerset have been flirting with the idea of promoting him to the top of the order, and the move could serve a dual purpose: give Rew the platform he needs to showcase his technique against the world’s best, and provide England with a fresh option to replace the under‑performing Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, both of whom have struggled for consistency in recent series. Atherton, speaking on the latest Sky Sports Cricket podcast, praised Rew's prolific run‑making but acknowledged the structural challenge.
"James Rew is getting lots of runs and playing really well," he said, "but that middle order is locked up, isn't it? You're not going to get in the middle order.
So opening the batting, I think there's going to be a vacancy there because I don't see Crawley getting picked." He added that the decision would hinge on balancing Somerset's own ambitions with England's long‑term development plans, a tension that has historically shaped selection policy. Hussain, who captained England from 1999 to 2003, echoed the sentiment and highlighted the specialist nature of opening in Test cricket. Referring to a comment from former Glamorgan player‑turned‑writer Steve James, he noted, "Rew should be knocking on the door at Somerset and asking them to open the batting, but he's done so well at four, then they could just turn to him and say, 'we'll do what's best for us'". Hussain warned that if Somerset were to lose Rew to international duty, the county could be left scrambling for a replacement, underscoring the delicate trade‑off between club and country.
Both former captains also reflected on historical precedents. Atherton recalled how Mark Butcher and Alec Stewart had been shuffled around the top three early in their careers, and how Dan Lawrence’s brief stint in the England opening slot had not worked out.
"I wouldn't be shoving Root in from the middle order if that's where he's staying. They did it with Dan Lawrence.
It wasn't a success, but you felt they were just keeping the seat warm there," Atherton explained. He argued that any player hoping to open for England must first prove themselves in the top three for their county side, a benchmark that Rew is rapidly approaching. Statistically, Rew’s numbers are impossible to ignore.
In the current Championship season he has amassed 379 runs at an average of 75.80, trailing only Jamie Smith’s 396 runs at a flawless 99.00. His consistency is reflected in a series of high‑score innings where he has demonstrated patience, a wide range of strokes, and an ability to rotate the strike – all essential traits for an opening batsman facing the new ball in Test conditions. Beyond the numbers, Rew’s technique offers additional reasons for optimism.
He possesses a compact back‑foot play that allows him to negotiate swing and seam movement, while his front‑foot drive is powerful enough to punish short deliveries. In recent matches he has also shown a growing proficiency against spin, a skill that will be valuable on the New Zealand tour where the pitches can offer turn later in the game. His calm demeanor under pressure, coupled with a willingness to leave the crease at the right moments, suggests a mental maturity beyond his years.
The upcoming first Test at Lord's on 4 June against New Zealand could become a turning point. If England decide to experiment with a new opening partnership, Rew could be the candidate they test, either alongside an experienced partner such as Ben Stokes or as part of a rotating three‑man opening unit that includes Jacob Bethell. The latter scenario would require Bethell to move up the order – a move that Hussain described as plausible but not without risk, given Bethell’s limited experience at number three in first‑class cricket. Atherton also used the podcast to highlight other emerging talents across the counties.
He singled out Sonny Baker for his pace and wicket‑taking ability, Henry Crocombe for his development as a young fast bowler at Sussex, and Sam Cook for his resilience after a disappointing debut. These observations illustrate that while Rew may be the headline name for batting, England’s selectors are also keeping a close eye on a broader pool of players who could reinforce both the batting and bowling departments. In summary, James Rew’s case for England hinges on three key factors: his extraordinary run‑scoring record, the current blockage in the middle order, and the willingness of Somerset to shift him to an opening role.
If he continues to dominate the County Championship and proves his mettle at the top of the order, the England management will face a genuine dilemma – how to integrate a young, in‑form left‑hander without disrupting the established balance of the side. The next few weeks, especially the Lord's Test, will likely provide the answer. Should Rew earn a call‑up, it would not only validate his personal ambition but also signal a broader shift in England’s approach to nurturing home‑grown talent for the longest format of the game.