The conversation about who might earn a place in England's Test side has recently turned to James Rew, the 22‑year‑old left‑handed batsman who has been tearing up the County Championship for Somerset. Michael Atherton and former captain Nasser Hussain both weighed in on the youngster's chances during a recent Sky Sports Cricket podcast, highlighting the challenges he faces and the potential pathways to a debut.
Rew has emerged as the most prolific run‑scorer in the domestic competition, second only to Jamie Smith in terms of aggregate runs. His consistency and ability to score at a healthy pace have made him a standout performer, yet the England middle order appears to be firmly entrenched.
The current hierarchy features Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes, all of whom have cemented their places through a combination of experience, form, and the occasional match‑winning innings. For a player like Rew, breaking into that core is unlikely without a shift in role or a vacancy arising from injury or loss of form.
One realistic avenue, according to Atherton, is for Rew to transition to an opening position for Somerset. By doing so, he could present England with a genuine opening option, especially as the national side looks to address concerns about the performances of Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, who have struggled for consistency at the top of the order.
"James Rew is getting lots of runs and playing really well," Atherton said on the podcast. "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." Atherton emphasized the delicate balance between a county's own needs and the national team's developmental goals. Somerset would have to weigh the benefit of keeping Rew at three or four against the potential upside of promoting him to open, a move that could also benefit the county by giving them a more aggressive start in the Championship. "That's really the question," Atherton added.
"Whether this balance between what the county wants and needs for its own success and what England maybe want to need and would like for their development is always a tricky balance." Hussain, who captained England from 1999 to 2003, echoed similar sentiments but added a note of caution about the specialist nature of opening. He referenced former England and Glamorgan player‑turned‑journalist Steve James, who suggested that Rew should be knocking on Somerset's door to request an opening slot. "If they start losing players to England, I do think opening is a specialist position," Hussain warned. He also pointed out that England have historically experimented with moving middle‑order players up the order with mixed results.
Dan Lawrence's brief stint at three in a Test was not a success, and while Jacob Bethell has shown promise at three, he has never opened in first‑class cricket. The discussion then turned to the logistics of reshuffling the current England top order.
Could Bethell be moved up to open, allowing Rew to slot in at three? The main obstacle appears to be Joe Root, who is unlikely to relinquish his preferred position at four. "The problem is obviously Root doesn't want to move from four," Hussain noted, highlighting the complexity of any wholesale change.
Nevertheless, both former captains agreed that a young, in‑form player like Rew needs to be batting in the top three at county level if he hopes to be considered for a similar role with England. Atherton reinforced this point, stating that he would not consider pushing Root down the order simply to make room for a newcomer.
"I wouldn't be shoving Root in from the middle order if that's where he's staying. They did it with Dan Lawrence. It wasn't a success, but you felt they were just keeping the seat warm there.
I think you've got to be batting in the top three," he said. "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 and everybody has ambitions and wants to play at the highest level, there's only one place at the moment, isn't there? And that's at the top of the order." Statistically, Rew's numbers are impressive: 379 runs at an average of 75.80, placing him just behind Jamie Smith's 396 runs at 99.00. Other notable performers in the Championship 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 illustrate the depth of talent available, but also underscore how exceptional Rew's output has been this season. Beyond the batting conversation, Atherton also highlighted a handful of bowlers who have caught his eye ahead of the upcoming Surrey vs Essex clash on Sky Sports Cricket. He mentioned Sonny Baker, a quick bowler showing promise, and Henry Crocombe of Sussex, an emerging fast talent. Sam Cook, despite a modest showing in his recent Test debut, was praised for his potential, with Athlett noting that a single off‑day should not define a bowler's future.
"He's 28 and should be in his prime yet for two or three years and knocking on the door with wickets," Atherton said, adding that Cook competes with the likes of Ollie Robinson and Matt Fisher for a place in the national setup. The broader context for Rew's case is the upcoming home summer for England, which kicks off with a three‑Test series against New Zealand at Lord's on June 4.
If the selectors decide to experiment with the opening pair, Rew could be a strong candidate, provided Somerset are willing to adjust his role and give him the exposure required at the top of the order. The situation remains fluid, but the consensus among the two former captains is clear: Rew's talent cannot be ignored, and his pathway to the England Test XI will most likely involve opening the batting either for Somerset or directly for the national side.
In summary, James Rew stands at a crossroads. His prolific run‑scoring in the County Championship has placed him on the radar of England's senior figures, but the entrenched middle order limits his immediate options. By shifting to an opening role at Somerset, he could create a viable route into the Test team, especially as England searches for stability at the top of the order ahead of the New Zealand series. The balance between county priorities and national ambitions will determine whether Rew can make that leap, but the conversation surrounding his potential has already begun, and the next few weeks could prove pivotal for the 22‑year‑old's international aspirations.