The conversation about who might earn a place in England's Test side has intensified, with former captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain weighing in on the rise of James Rew in the County Championship. Rew, a 22‑year‑old left‑handed batsman, currently tops the run‑scoring charts for Somerset and is only outperformed in the competition by Jamie Smith. His prolific form has sparked speculation that he could be forced into the national side, but the pathway is anything but straightforward.
At the moment England's middle order looks firmly entrenched. Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes have all cemented their places, leaving little room for a newcomer to slip in.
For Rew, the most realistic route may be to reinvent himself as an opener for Somerset, thereby offering England a fresh option at the top of the order. The current opening pair, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, have both endured periods of poor form, and the England selectors are under pressure to find a reliable alternative before the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's on 4 June. During a recent episode of the Sky Sports Cricket podcast, Atherton highlighted the paradox facing Rew. "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." Atherton went on to stress that any decision would have to balance Somerset's own ambitions with England's long‑term development plans. "Can you open the batting for England?
That's really the question," he added, noting that the county‑team versus national‑team dynamic is always delicate. Former England captain Nasser Hussain echoed similar concerns.
He quoted cricket writer Steve James, who suggested that Rew should be knocking on Somerset's door to request an opening slot. Hussain warned that if Somerset were to lose a key player to international duty, the county could suffer, especially given that opening is a specialist role. "Three to open.
I'm not that fussed about. Mark Butcher was three open. 'Gaffer' [Alec Stewart] used to do it and you used to do it, didn't you?
And then you opened for Lancashire and everything that followed from that," Hussain recalled, drawing on historical examples to illustrate the fluidity of batting positions. The discussion then turned to the feasibility of reshuffling the current order. Hussain noted that Dan Lawrence had previously been tried in the middle order with limited success, and he questioned whether Bethell could be promoted to open while Rew moved to number three.
The main obstacle, he said, is Joe Root's reluctance to abandon his preferred position at number four. "The problem is obviously Root doesn't want to move from four so it is an interesting question," Hussain observed. Atherton, who captained England at the age of 25, reinforced the idea that a player must prove himself in the top three for his county before being considered for an opening role at the international level. "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. I think you've got to be batting in the top three," he argued.
He added that for a young cricketer like Rew, the only realistic way to break into the England side is to secure a top‑order spot at the county level first. Statistically, Rew's numbers are impressive. He has amassed 379 runs at an average of 75.80, second only to Jamie Smith's 396 runs at a perfect 99.00. Other notable performers in the Championship include Tom Abell (337 runs, 56.16), Joe Clarke (273 runs, 68.25) and Oliver Cox (266 runs, 88.66).
These figures underscore the depth of talent in the domestic game and the fierce competition for Test places. Beyond Rew, Atherton also highlighted a handful of other county players catching his eye ahead of the upcoming Surrey versus Essex clash, which will be broadcast live 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 a recent Test, remains a promising fast‑bowler in his prime years. "If they're looking for a line‑bowler and an English‑style bowler, I mean, he's got competition.
Ollie Robinson and Matt Fisher, I suppose, is his competition. But I think Sam Cook's a good bowler. He's 28 and should be in his prime yet for two or three years and knocking on the door with wickets," Atherton said. Atherton also gave a nod to Jimmy Anderson, who despite playing in Division Two, continues to lead Lancashire's attack with a prolific wicket haul, demonstrating that quality can be found across all tiers of the County Championship.
The broader context for all this debate is England's home summer schedule, which kicks off with a three‑Test series against New Zealand at Lord's on 4 June. The series will be streamed on Sky Sports, with alternative streaming options available via NOW for those without a Sky subscription.
As the England selectors weigh their options, the pressure on Rew to adapt his game—whether by taking on the opening role for Somerset or by finding a niche elsewhere—will only increase. In summary, James Rew's prolific run‑scoring has placed him firmly on the radar of England's senior staff, but the path to a Test debut is blocked by an established middle order and the need for a proven opening record at the county level. The coming weeks will be crucial as Somerset decides whether to move Rew up the order, and as England's selectors determine how best to incorporate fresh talent without destabilising the existing balance.
The outcome will shape not only Rew's career trajectory but also the strategic direction of England's batting line‑up heading into the New Zealand series and beyond.