Nearly a month has passed since the County Championship kicked off, and the race for England's Test opening slots remains anything but settled. A steady stream of high scores from a range of Test‑hopefuls has only deepened the uncertainty surrounding the top‑order composition.
Opener Zak Crawley, who has been under intense scrutiny since his underwhelming Ashes showing, has yet to find his footing in Division Two with Kent. In the most recent encounter, a heavy innings defeat at the hands of Worcestershire saw him record modest scores of 27 and 31, leaving his Championship average languishing at 19.66 after six innings. Such figures make a return to the England side increasingly unlikely unless he can engineer a dramatic turnaround in the limited time left before the New Zealand Test series begins. Meanwhile, fellow opener Ben Duckett has taken a step forward.
After a turbulent stint in Australia, he posted a commanding 93 for Nottinghamshire in a draw against Warwickshire, lifting his season average to 45.25. This performance nudges him closer to retaining his place in the Test squad, but consistency will be key as Nottinghamshire face three more fixtures before the summer's first international match. Adding further pressure are the in‑form county batsmen who are making strong cases for selection. Somerset wicket‑keeper James Rew has been a revelation at the No 4 position, amassing 337 runs at an astonishing 75.07 in Division One – a tally surpassed only by current England keeper Jamie Smith.
Rew’s aggressive 73.36 strike‑rate and his ability to dominate the middle order have sparked lively debate among pundits about whether he should be thrust into the England lineup, perhaps even reshuffling the established order that includes Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and captain Ben Stokes. Former England captain Michael Atherton highlighted this quandary on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast, suggesting a possible move of Bethell up the order to accommodate Rew at three.
Durham’s Emilio Gay is another name that cannot be ignored. After a debut‑match double‑century of 128 against Kent, he followed it up with a blistering unbeaten 159 against Lancashire, steering his side to an eight‑wicket victory while chasing 336. Averaging 86 in Division Two, Gay combines experience as a first‑class opener with a strike‑rate that aligns with head coach Brendon McCullum’s preference for rapid scoring.
His continued form could see him become a viable alternative to the current opening pair. Former England internationals Dom Sibley and Dan Lawrence have also resurfaced with impressive innings for Surrey – 101 and 125 respectively in a high‑scoring draw against Essex.
Their resurgence adds depth to the selection pool and could force the selectors to consider additional top‑order options if they maintain this level of performance. The spinner’s slot remains equally contested.
Derbyshire’s Shoaib Bashir, who struggled to break into the England side during the Ashes and recorded a dismal 0‑113 for the Lions against Australia A, appears to be rediscovering his rhythm at county level, claiming nine wickets in three Championship matches, including a four‑for against Lancashire. Yet many argue that a summer away from international duties might benefit his development more than the county circuit. Young leg‑spinner Rehan Ahmed, once touted as a future England star, has opted to skip the remaining County Championship fixtures to join the Delhi Capitals in the IPL, sacrificing a month of red‑ball cricket for the allure of franchise play. His decision underscores the growing tension between domestic commitments and lucrative overseas leagues.
Similarly, England all‑rounder Will Jacks has chosen the IPL over Surrey, leaving his county contributions on hold and raising questions about his availability for England’s spin options. Veteran off‑spinner Jack Leach, who finished as the third‑highest wicket‑taker in the 2025 Championship, has had a slower start this season, taking four wickets at an average of 46.75.
Former England bowler Liam Dawson mirrors this modest beginning with six wickets at 49.00. The lack of a clear, in‑form spinner amplifies the selection headache as the summer approaches. With just over a month remaining until England launch their Test campaign against New Zealand, the upcoming three rounds of Championship cricket will be pivotal. Performances in these matches could solidify or overturn the current hierarchy.
Recent results illustrate the competitive landscape: - Glamorgan posted 440 & 137‑2 (Tribe 67*) to draw with Leicestershire’s 586‑7 dec (Tattersall 112, Weatherald 104 ret hurt, Cox 68*). - Warwickshire’s 459 (Barnard 165, Booth 70, Woakes 64, Tongue 5‑124) drew with Nottinghamshire’s 279 & 537‑7 dec (Hameed 115, Verreynne 115, Duckett 93, Clarke 82). - Essex’s 409 & 302‑2 dec (Westley 136, Elgar 107*) drew with Surrey’s 472 (Lawrence 125, Sibley 101). - Sussex’s 502 & 324‑8 (Clark 93, Coles 53, Robinson 41*) drew with Yorkshire’s 511 (Bean 105, Whiteman 101, Root 96).
- Gloucestershire’s 498 & 39‑0 beat Derbyshire’s 281 & 252 (f/o) by ten wickets. - Durham’s 295 & 336‑2 (Gay 159*, Bedingham 129*) defeated Lancashire’s 370 (Harris 146 & 260‑9 dec). - Worcestershire’s 447 beat Kent’s 196 & 249 by an innings and two runs. These fixtures highlight the depth of talent bubbling through the county ranks and set the stage for a decisive period in which England’s selectors must weigh form, experience, and potential.
Whether the final Test XI will feature a blend of seasoned campaigners like Crawley and Duckett, emerging forces such as Gay and Rew, or a re‑imagined middle order anchored by Sibley and Lawrence remains to be seen. The coming weeks promise to deliver clarity – or further debate – as England strives to assemble a top‑order capable of competing at the highest level.