The question on every cricket enthusiast's mind this season 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 lighting up the County Championship for Somerset. Their discussion, aired on the latest Sky Sports Cricket podcast, highlighted both Rew's impressive statistics and the structural challenges that stand in the way of his immediate selection. Rew has emerged as the most prolific run‑getter in the domestic circuit, second only to Jamie Smith in terms of aggregate runs.
His current tally of 379 runs at an average of 75.80 places him firmly among the elite performers this season. Yet, despite such numbers, the pathway to a Test debut is anything but straightforward.
England's current middle order appears to be set in stone, with the likes of Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes all firmly entrenched. This reality forces Rew to contemplate a different route: opening the innings for Somerset, thereby presenting a potential alternative for the national side, especially as the England top order – notably Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett – has struggled for consistency.
Atherton opened the conversation by acknowledging Rew's form. "James Rew is getting lots of runs and playing really well," he said, before noting the bottleneck in the middle order. "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." The former England captain stressed that a place at the top of the order is the most realistic avenue for a young player like Rew. He explained that England traditionally looks for players who have proven themselves in the top three positions for their counties before promoting them to the national opening slots. "I wouldn't be shoving Root in from the middle order if that's where he's staying," Atherton added, referencing the brief experiment with Dan Lawrence at three that did not work out.
"Ideally for him, he would be batting in the top three. And maybe that will come to pass. If you're a young kid looking at where you're going to get in the England side, there's only one place at the moment, and that's at the top of the order." Hussain, who captained England from 1999 to 2003, echoed similar concerns while adding his own perspective on the county‑national balance. He quoted former Glamorgan player‑turned‑writer Steve James, who suggested that Rew should be knocking on Somerset's door to open the innings.
Hussain warned that Somerset might be reluctant to lose a key batsman to international duty, but he also recognised that opening is a specialist role that could suit Rew's skill set. "That's the other thing we have to factor in with Somerset is if they start losing players to England. I do think opening is a specialist position," he said.
The conversation then turned to the practicalities of reshuffling the current order. Both pundits explored the idea of moving Jacob Bethell up to open, thereby slotting Rew at number three. However, this would require Joe Root to shift from his comfortable number four position, a move that seems unlikely given Root's stature and recent performances.
Hussain noted, "Bethell's one that came in about at three and has never done it before in first‑class cricket. Could you move Bethell up to open and have Rew at three?
The problem is obviously Root doesn't want to move from four." Beyond the opening dilemma, Atherton and Hussain also touched on other emerging talents in the Championship who could influence England's selection decisions. Atherton highlighted the pace prospects Sonny Baker, who is generating excitement with his quick deliveries, and Henry Crocombe of Sussex, a young fast bowler showing steady improvement. He also defended Sam Cook, a 28‑year‑old seamer who, despite a modest showing in his debut Test, has displayed the ability to take wickets consistently at the county level. "He shouldn't be mentally discarded because of that one Test match where he didn't bowl at his best," Atherton argued, adding that Cook is entering his prime and could be a valuable asset for England's seam attack.
The discussion concluded with a look ahead to the upcoming international summer. England will host New Zealand for a three‑Test series starting on 4 June at Lord's, and the selectors will be under pressure to field a side that balances experience with youthful aggression.
If Rew can secure an opening berth for Somerset and continue to dominate the County Championship, his case for inclusion will become increasingly compelling. Conversely, if the current top order stabilises and the middle order remains locked, Rew may have to bide his time, perhaps earning a place as a backup opener or a specialist in limited‑overs formats.
In summary, James Rew's stellar run‑scoring has put him firmly on the radar of England's senior staff, but the structural realities of the national side mean that his immediate pathway is likely to be through the opening slot. Whether Somerset will accommodate his ambitions, and whether the England selectors will be willing to reshuffle the existing order, remain open questions that will be answered in the weeks leading up to the New Zealand series. The next few months will be crucial for Rew, Bethell, and the rest of the emerging cohort as they strive to turn domestic success into international opportunity.