England's pool of Test candidates has become a hot topic among former captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain, who recently examined the rise of James Rew in the County Championship. Rew, a 22‑year‑old left‑handed batsman, currently tops the domestic run‑scoring charts, second only to Jamie Smith. His prolific form has sparked a debate about whether he can break into a middle order that already appears set with Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes. With those four firmly entrenched, the most realistic pathway for Rew may be to open the innings for Somerset, potentially displacing the struggling opening pair of Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett.
Atherton, speaking on the latest Sky Sports Cricket podcast, praised Rew’s consistency but highlighted the bottleneck in England’s middle order. "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." He went on to question whether the national side could realistically slot a newcomer into the top three without compromising the balance between county needs and England’s long‑term development plans. Hussain, who captained England from 1999 to 2003, added another layer to the discussion. He quoted former Glamorgan player‑turned‑journalist Steve James, who suggested that Rew should be knocking on Somerset’s door to claim an opening slot. "If he’s done so well at four, they could just turn to him and say, ‘we’ll do what’s best for us’," Hussain said, noting the delicate relationship between a county’s desire to keep its talent and the national team’s appetite for fresh options.
He also stressed that opening the batting is a specialist role, implying that any move would need careful consideration. Both pundits referenced historical precedents.
Atherton recalled that England have previously promoted players from the middle order to open, citing Mark Butcher and Alec Stewart as examples, while also acknowledging the mixed success of Dan Lawrence’s stint at three. "I wouldn’t be shoving Root in from the middle order if that’s where he’s staying," Atherton warned.
"You have to be batting in the top three for your county to be considered for the national opening slot." The conversation then turned to the practicalities of reshuffling the current order. Hussain wondered whether Bethell could be moved up to open, allowing Rew to bat at three, but noted that Root is unlikely to relinquish his position at four. "It’s an interesting question," he said, "because you have to balance the ambitions of a young kid like Rew with the entrenched hierarchy of the senior players." Statistical snapshots were also shared: Jamie Smith leads with 396 runs at an average of 99.00, followed closely by Rew’s 379 runs at 75.80. Other notable performers include Tom Abell (337 runs, 56.16), Joe Clarke (273 runs, 68.25), Oliver Cox (266 runs, 88.66) and Ben Foakes (255 runs, 127.50).
These figures underline the depth of talent in the Championship and the difficulty selectors face when narrowing the field. Atherton used the platform to highlight additional county players catching his eye ahead of the upcoming Surrey versus Essex clash on Sky Sports Cricket. He praised fast‑bowling prospects such as Sonny Baker, who “looks lively and is taking wickets,” and Sussex’s emerging paceman Henry Crocombe. He also defended Sam Cook, who, despite a quiet debut Test, remains a promising 28‑year‑old who should not be dismissed after one off‑day.
"He’s in his prime and knocking on the door with wickets," Atherton asserted, adding that Cook competes with the likes of Ollie Robinson and Matt Fisher for a place in the England setup. The discussion concluded with a reminder of the broader context: England’s home summer begins with a three‑Test series against New Zealand at Lord’s on June 4, and the selectors will have to decide whether to integrate a newcomer like Rew into the squad or maintain the status quo. As Atherton and Hussain noted, the decision hinges not only on raw numbers but also on the strategic fit within the team’s structure, the player’s experience at the top of the order, and the willingness of county sides to release their star performers for international duty. The coming weeks will reveal whether James Rew can translate his county dominance into a genuine England Test opportunity, potentially reshaping the future of England’s opening partnership.