The County Championship is now approaching the one‑month mark, and the battle for England's opening slots is far from settled. While several Test hopefuls have piled up impressive runs, the hierarchy at the top of the order is still shifting, and every performance in the domestic arena is being scrutinised for clues about who will earn a place in the summer Test side. Opening partner Zak Crawley, who has been under intense pressure since his underwhelming Ashes showing, has yet to make a convincing case for himself.
In his first two innings for Kent in Division Two, he managed only 27 and 31, both in a heavy defeat to Worcestershire that ended in an innings loss. Those modest scores have left his average at a disappointing 19.66 across six innings, and unless he produces a dramatic turnaround in May, his chances of reclaiming an England berth look slim.
By contrast, fellow opener Ben Duckett has taken a step forward. After a rocky stint in Australia that raised questions about his form and temperament, Duckett responded with a near‑century – 93 runs – for Nottinghamshire in a draw against Warwickshire. That innings lifted his Championship average to 45.25 and has given the selectors some reassurance that he can still deliver at the highest level.
However, he now faces the task of maintaining that level across Nottinghamshire's remaining three fixtures before the first Test against New Zealand, because consistency will be the ultimate judge. Beyond the established openers, a wave of in‑form county batsmen is pressing for attention.
Somerset wicket‑keeper James Rew has emerged as a strong candidate for a top‑order role, posting 337 runs at an astonishing 75.07 average in Division One – the second‑best average after England's current keeper, Jamie Smith. Rew, who usually bats at number four, has never opened in first‑class cricket, yet his run‑making has sparked debate about whether he could be slotted higher up the order, perhaps even as an opener, to accommodate the entrenched middle order of Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes.
Emilio Gay is another name that cannot be ignored. After a debut century of 128 for Durham against Kent, Gay followed it up with a blistering unbeaten 159 against Lancashire, steering Durham to a successful chase of 336 and earning an eight‑wicket victory. His strike‑rate of 73.36 points to a modern, aggressive style that aligns with England head coach Brendon McCullum's preference for rapid scoring. At 86 runs per innings, Gay is currently the highest‑averaging batsman in Division Two and is quickly climbing the national radar.
Former England internationals Dom Sibley and Dan Lawrence have also reminded selectors of their quality. Both posted double‑hundreds – Sibley 101 and Lawrence 125 – in Surrey's high‑scoring draw against Essex.
Their resurgence suggests they could provide depth and experience to the top order, especially if they can sustain this form through the remaining county fixtures. The spinner's slot is equally contested.
Shoaib Bashir, who struggled to break into the England side after an unproductive Ashes tour and a 0‑113 spell for the Lions against Australia A, appears to be reviving his fortunes with Derbyshire, taking nine wickets in three Championship games, including a four‑for against Lancashire. Nevertheless, many observers believe a spell abroad could benefit him more than staying in the county circuit. Rehan Ahmed, the 21‑year‑old left‑arm spinner who has impressed with six wickets for Leicestershire, chose to miss the next month of red‑ball cricket to join the Delhi Capitals in the IPL.
While the IPL offers exposure and financial reward, it also means he will miss three rounds of the Championship, potentially weakening his case for a Test selection when the summer begins. The same dilemma applies to Will Jacks, who opted for the IPL over Surrey, and to veteran spin options like Jack Leach and Liam Dawson, whose early‑season figures – Leach's four wickets at 46.75 and Dawson's six at 49.00 – have been far from compelling. All these variables culminate in a crucial period for England's selectors. With just over a month left before the New Zealand series, every county match carries added significance.
The recent results illustrate the competitive landscape: - At Cardiff, Glamorgan posted 440 and 137‑2 (Tribe 67*) to draw with Leicestershire, who replied with 586‑7 declared (Tattersall 112, Weatherald 104*). - At Trent Bridge, Warwickshire made 459 (Barnard 165) and drew with Nottinghamshire, who posted 279 and 537‑7 declared (Duckett 93). - At the Oval, Essex compiled 409 and 302‑2 declared (Westley 136, Elgar 107*) to draw with Surrey's 472 (Lawrence 125, Sibley 101).
- At Headingley, Sussex amassed 502 and 324‑8 (Root 3‑67) to draw with Yorkshire's 511 (Root 96). - At Derby, Gloucestershire's 498 (Hammond 145) and 39‑0 secured a ten‑wicket win over Derbyshire's 281 and 252 (f/o). - At Chester‑le‑Street, Durham's 295 and 336‑2 (Gay 159*) beat Lancashire's 370 and 260‑9 declared (Coughlin 100*). - At New Road, Worcestershire's 447 (D'Oliveira 90) defeated Kent's 196 and 249 by an innings and two runs.
These fixtures highlight both individual brilliance and team dynamics that will influence the final Test squad. The ongoing debate about where to slot Rew – perhaps moving Bethell up to open and placing Rew at three – underscores the complexity of balancing youth, form, and experience. Former England captain Michael Atherton summed up the dilemma on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast, noting that "it's just getting to that stage where you have to find a way of picking [Rew]". In summary, the race for England's top‑order spots is heating up, with Duckett and Gay leading the charge, Crawley under threat, and a host of county performers knocking on the door.
The next three rounds of Championship cricket will likely provide the decisive data points that selectors need to finalize their line‑up for the upcoming Test series against New Zealand.