The conversation around England's upcoming Test line‑up has turned sharply toward a young Somerset batsman named James Rew. In a recent Sky Sports Cricket podcast, two of the game’s most respected former captains—Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain—examined Rew's impressive county performances and debated how, or even if, he could break into a middle order that already appears set in stone. Rew’s statistics speak for themselves. At just 22 years old, he has amassed 379 runs in the current County Championship at an average of 75.80, making him the second‑most prolific run‑scorer in the competition, trailing only Jamie Smith.
His consistency, ability to rotate the strike and knack for finding gaps have drawn the attention of national selectors, yet the path to a Test cap is anything but straightforward. England’s senior middle order currently features Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes—four established players who have cemented their places through years of international experience.
Because that group is effectively locked, Rew’s most realistic route to the England side may be as an opener for Somerset, thereby creating a potential opening partnership for the national team and offering a solution to the struggles of current openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, both of whom have faced criticism for their recent form. Atherton, who captained England at 25 and now serves as a senior commentator, was blunt on the podcast: “James Rew is getting lots of runs and playing really well. 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 went on to stress the delicate balance between a county’s needs and England’s developmental goals, noting that forcing a county to alter its batting order for the sake of a national call‑up can be a tricky proposition. Hussain, England’s former captain from 1999‑2003, added his own perspective. He quoted cricket writer Steve James, who suggested that Rew should be knocking on Somerset’s door to open the innings. Hussain warned that if Somerset begins to lose players to the national side, the county could suffer, but he also recognised opening as a specialist role that Rew could master.
"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 said, underscoring the historical precedent for moving a top‑order batsman into the opening slot. The discussion then shifted to the practicalities of reshuffling the England top order.
Both former captains agreed that moving a player like Joe Root down the order would be unthinkable; Root has been a mainstay at number four for years. The idea of promoting Jacob Bethell—who usually bats at three but has never opened in first‑class cricket—was floated, yet the consensus was that Bethell’s skill set might be better suited to the middle order.
The real conundrum, therefore, is whether England could accommodate Rew at three while still preserving the existing hierarchy, or whether a more radical re‑ordering is required. Beyond the Rew debate, Atherton used the platform to highlight several other county performers who could be on the selectors’ radar for the New Zealand series beginning on June 4 at Lord’s. He mentioned Sonny Baker, a quick‑bowling prospect showing promise, and Henry Crocombe of Sussex, an emerging fast bowler. Sam Cook, despite a quiet showing in his recent Test debut, was praised for his potential and compared favorably with established England seamers like Ollie Robinson and Matt Fisher.
Jimmy Anderson’s continued dominance in Division Two was also noted, reinforcing the depth of English pace talent across the county game. If Rew does earn a call‑up, England will face a tactical puzzle: how to slot a left‑handed, top‑order batsman into a side that has traditionally relied on right‑handed openers.
The selectors might consider a partnership with an experienced opener such as Ben Duckett, allowing Rew to settle into the role while providing a safety net. Alternatively, they could experiment with a flexible batting order, promoting Rew to number three and reshuffling the rest of the line‑up to accommodate his style. The broader implication of this debate is the ongoing tension between county cricket’s competitive objectives and the national team’s developmental needs.
Counties like Somerset invest heavily in nurturing talent, and a premature loss of a key player can impact their championship aspirations. Conversely, England’s success on the international stage depends on a pipeline that can replenish the squad with fresh, in‑form batsmen.
The dialogue between Atherton and Hussain captures this balancing act, acknowledging that while Rew’s numbers merit attention, the decision must also consider team chemistry, player readiness and the strategic demands of a Test series against a strong New Zealand side. In summary, James Rew stands out as the most prolific run‑getter in the County Championship after Jamie Smith, and his performances have sparked serious discussion among England’s cricketing veterans. With the middle order seemingly set, his most viable path to a Test debut may lie in opening for Somerset and, by extension, for England.
Whether the selectors will reshape the top order to accommodate him, or wait for a natural vacancy, remains to be seen. What is clear is that Rew’s talent cannot be ignored, and his future will be a focal point of England’s selection conversations as the summer programme unfolds, beginning with the high‑profile New Zealand series at Lord’s.