The County Championship is now approaching its fourth week, and despite a flood of big scores from several England Test hopefuls, the hierarchy at the top of the batting order remains anything but settled. The pressure on opener Zak Crawley has only intensified after his start to the Division Two campaign with Kent has been underwhelming. In the most recent match, Crawley managed only 27 and 31 as Kent suffered an innings defeat to Worcestershire, leaving his place in the England side in serious doubt. By contrast, fellow opener Ben Duckett has been making a stronger case for himself.
After a modest first‑innings half‑century earlier in the season, Duckett produced a commanding 93 for Nottinghamshire in a high‑scoring draw against Warwickshire. That knock not only lifted his average to a respectable 45.25 but also nudged him closer to retaining his Test berth when England line‑up for the summer series against New Zealand. Yet, Duckett is not the only player knocking on the door.
A group of in‑form county batsmen are also staking a claim. Somerset wicket‑keeper James Rew has been a revelation at the No 4 slot, scoring heavily in all three of his appearances. Meanwhile, Durham’s Emilio Gay is averaging an eye‑popping 86 in Division Two, and former England internationals Dom Sibley and Dan Lawrence have both rediscovered form for Surrey, each posting centuries in the recent high‑scoring draw with Essex. The search for a specialist spinner for England’s Test side is equally fraught.
Derbyshire’s Shoaib Bashir has been taking wickets, but the most talked‑about spin prospect, Rehan Ahmed, has opted to head abroad for the IPL, leaving his county season on hold. With just over a month remaining before England’s first Test of the summer, the outcomes of the remaining County Championship fixtures could prove decisive for the national squad. Crawley’s international reputation has suffered since his lackluster Ashes performances in the winter, and his County numbers have not helped.
He is currently averaging just 19.66, with a highest score of 31 across six innings. Unless he engineers a dramatic turnaround in May, his chances of returning to the England side appear slim. Duckett, who endured a turbulent stint in Australia due to off‑field distractions, has steadied his campaign with two solid innings against Warwickshire.
Consistency in Nottinghamshire’s remaining three matches before the Test series will be crucial if he hopes to cement his place. Gay’s rise has been meteoric. After a debut‑match 128 for Durham against Kent, he followed it with an unbeaten 159 against Lancashire, guiding Durham to chase down 336 and win by eight wickets.
His first‑class experience as an opener, combined with a strike‑rate of 73.36, aligns well with the aggressive batting philosophy championed by England head coach Brendon McCullum. The resurgence of former England players Sibley and Lawrence adds further complexity. Both posted big scores – 101 and 125 respectively – in Surrey’s draw with Essex, suggesting they could be viable top‑order options if they maintain this form. James Rew’s inclusion in the conversation is noteworthy.
He sits third on the Division One run‑scoring list with 337 runs at an average of 75.07, second only to current England keeper Jamie Smith. While Smith’s form likely secures his place, Rew’s performances have sparked debate about where he could fit into the England order. Rew has never opened at the county level, and the established middle order of Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes presents a significant barrier.
Nonetheless, former England captain Michael Atherton has suggested that Rew could be slotted in at number three, moving Bethell up the order, highlighting the flexibility selectors might need. On the spin front, Shoaib Bashir’s county form shows promise after a difficult Ashes tour that saw him miss out entirely and a 0‑113 spell for the England Lions against Australia A. In three Championship matches for Derbyshire he has taken nine wickets, including a four‑for against Lancashire, indicating a possible resurgence. Leicestershire’s 21‑year‑old Rehan Ahmed, another spinner on the England radar, has taken six wickets for his county but has chosen to sit out the next month of red‑ball cricket to join the Delhi Capitals in the IPL.
This decision means he will miss three rounds of the Championship, potentially weakening his claim for a Test spot, especially with India’s Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel also vying for places in the IPL side. Will Jacks, Surrey’s all‑rounder, faces a similar dilemma. He has opted to prioritize the IPL over county duties, leaving his county appearances limited.
While his batting across formats could keep him in contention for a middle‑order role, his recent struggles with the ball in Australia raise questions about his viability as a spinner for England. Veteran off‑spinner Jack Leach, who was the third‑most prolific wicket‑taker in the 2025 Championship, has had a slower start this season, claiming just four wickets at an average of 46.75.
Former England all‑rounder Liam Dawson is also off to an unremarkable start, with six wickets at 49.00. These gaps in the spinner department underscore the urgency for the next three Championship rounds. Performances in these matches could tip the balance for selection. Recent results provide context for the current landscape: - Cardiff: Glamorgan 440 & 137‑2 drew with Leicestershire 586‑7 declared.
- Trent Bridge: Warwickshire 459 drew with Nottinghamshire 279 & 537‑7 declared (Duckett 93). - The Oval: Essex 409 & 302‑2 declared drew with Surrey 472 (Lawrence 125, Sibley 101).
- Headingley: Sussex 502 & 324‑8 drew with Yorkshire 511. - Derby: Gloucestershire 498 & 39‑0 beat Derbyshire 281 & 252 (f/o) by ten wickets. - Chester‑le‑Street: Durham 295 & 336‑2 (Gay 159*) beat Lancashire 370 & 260‑9 declared by eight wickets. - New Road: Worcestershire 447 beat Kent by an innings and two runs.
As England prepares to launch its summer Test campaign against New Zealand, the performances of these county players will be scrutinised intensely. Consistency, run‑scoring power, and the ability to adapt to different match situations will be key criteria for selectors seeking to finalize a balanced and competitive squad.