We are now approaching the one‑month mark of the 2026 County Championship, and despite a flood of big scores from a host of England Test hopefuls, the picture for the national side's top order remains hazy. The opening pair, in particular, are under intense scrutiny as the season unfolds. Zak Crawley, the England opener who has been under fire since his lack‑lustre Ashes showing, has yet to find form for Kent in Division Two. In the most recent match, he managed 27 and 31, contributing to a heavy innings defeat at the hands of Worcestershire.
Those modest returns have left his average at a modest 19.66 after six innings, and many commentators now doubt his chances of reclaiming an England place unless he produces a dramatic turnaround in May. Ben Duckett, the other England opener, has been more encouraging.
In Nottinghamshire's draw with Warwickshire, he compiled a polished 93, improving on his earlier half‑century and nudging his season average up to 45.25. This performance has helped to reassure the selectors that he still merits a spot in the Test side, though he will need to sustain this level across Nottinghamshire's remaining fixtures before the first England Test against New Zealand. Beyond the two incumbents, a cluster of in‑form county batsmen are pressing their claims.
Somerset wicket‑keeper James Rew has been a revelation at the No 4 slot, scoring heavily in all three of his appearances. His Division One average of 75.07 places him just behind current England keeper Jamie Smith, and his 337 runs rank him third on the Division One run‑scoring list. Rew’s versatility – he has never opened but can bat anywhere in the top order – has sparked debate about whether he should be thrust into the England lineup, potentially displacing established players such as Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook or even captain Ben Stokes. Emilio Gay is another name that cannot be ignored.
After a debut‑match 128 for Durham against Kent, he followed it up with a spectacular unbeaten 159 against Lancashire, guiding Durham to a successful chase of 336. Gay now averages an astonishing 86 in Division Two and boasts a strike‑rate of 73.36, suggesting he can adapt to the aggressive style favoured by England head coach Brendon McCullum. His experience as a first‑class opener adds further weight to his case for selection. Former England internationals Dom Sibley and Dan Lawrence have also resurfaced with big scores for Surrey – 101 and 125 respectively in a high‑scoring draw against Essex.
If they can maintain this form, they could provide the selectors with additional top‑order options and potentially create a selection dilemma. The spin department is equally unsettled. Shoaib Bashir, once a fringe England spinner, has begun to rediscover his touch for Derbyshire, taking nine wickets in three Championship games, including a four‑for against Lancashire.
However, his international prospects remain uncertain after a barren Ashes tour and a 0‑113 spell for the England Lions against Australia A. Rehan Ahmed, another highly‑rated young spinner, has chosen to skip the remainder of the county season in order to join the Delhi Capitals in the IPL. While the IPL experience could accelerate his development, it also means he will miss three rounds of Championship cricket, putting him at a disadvantage compared with domestic rivals who are still playing. Will Jacks, the Surrey all‑rounder, has also opted for an IPL stint, leaving his county duties on hold.
His batting credentials across formats are strong, but his recent struggles with the ball in Australia raise questions about his suitability as a frontline spinner for England. Veteran off‑spinner Jack Leach, who finished as the third‑highest wicket‑taker in the 2025 Championship, has had a slow start this year, claiming only four wickets at an average of 46.75.
Fellow former England player Liam Dawson has been similarly underwhelming, with six wickets at 49.00. All of these variables converge as England prepares to launch its summer Test series against New Zealand, broadcast live on Sky Sports. The next three rounds of the County Championship will be pivotal in shaping the final squad.
Below is a brief recap of the matches played from Friday 24 April to Monday 27 April: - Cardiff: Glamorgan 440 (Crane 99, Carlson 95, Dickson 90) & 137‑2 (Tribe 67*) drew with Leicestershire 586‑7 dec (Tattersall 112, Weatherald 104 ret hurt, Cox 68*). - Trent Bridge: Warwickshire 459 (Barnard 165, Booth 70, Woakes 64, Tongue 5‑124) drew with Nottinghamshire 279 & 537‑7 dec (f/o) (Hameed 115, Verreynne 115, Duckett 93, Clarke 82; Webster 2‑55). - The Oval: Essex 409 (Walter 101) & 302‑2 dec (Westley 136, Elgar 107*) drew with Surrey 472 (Lawrence 125, Sibley 101; Harmer 3‑69).
- Headingley: Sussex 502 (Simpson 136, Price 93, Haines 64) & 324‑8 (Clark 93, Coles 53, Robinson 41*) drew with Yorkshire 511 (Bean 105, Whiteman 101, Root 96, Coles 3‑138). - Derby: Gloucestershire 498 (Hammond 145) & 39‑0 beat Derbyshire 281 & 252 (f/o) (Montgomery 74; Bell 3‑44) by 10 wickets. - Chester‑le‑Street: Durham 295 & 336‑2 (Gay 159*, Bedingham 129*) beat Lancashire 370 (Harris 146 & 260‑9 dec (Coughlin 100*; Raine 3‑50) by eight wickets. - New Road: Worcestershire 447 (D'Oliveira 90, Hose 70) beat Kent 196 & 249 (Benjamin 77, Taylor 5‑56) by an innings and 2 runs.
These results underline the depth of talent available and the fierce competition for places. Whether the England selectors decide to gamble on emerging stars like Rew, Gay or Ahmed, or stick with proven performers such as Duckett and the seasoned middle order, will largely depend on the performances delivered in the remaining county fixtures before the Test series commences.