The conversation around England’s forthcoming Test line‑up has intensified, with former captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain weighing in on the case of James Rew, the prolific Somerset batsman who has been tearing up the County Championship this season. Rew, only 22, currently tops the national run‑scoring charts, second only to Jamie Smith, and his form has sparked a debate about whether he deserves a place in England’s Test side, especially as the middle order appears firmly entrenched with the likes of Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes. At present, the England middle order is effectively locked in. Root, Brook and Stokes have cemented their places, while Bethell, despite his youth, is being groomed as a future mainstay.
This leaves little room for a newcomer unless there is a reshuffle or an injury. Consequently, Rew’s most realistic pathway into the national side may be through the opening slots. Somerset have already hinted that they could move him up the order to open the innings, a change that could provide England with a left‑handed option at the top and put pressure on the current openers, Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett, whose recent performances have been mixed and whose places are not guaranteed for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s on 4 June. Atherton, speaking on the latest Sky Sports Cricket podcast, praised Rew’s run‑making ability but stressed the difficulty of breaking into a settled 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 ask a simple yet crucial question: can Rew adapt to the demands of opening for England? The former captain also highlighted the tension between a county’s desire to keep its best players for its own success and the national team’s need to develop talent for the future. “That 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,” Atherton observed.
Hussain, who captained England from 1999 to 2003, echoed similar concerns. He referenced former Glamorgan player‑turned‑journalist Steve James, who suggested that Rew should be knocking on Somerset’s door to take on the opening role. Hussain warned that if Somerset were to lose Rew to international duties, the county would need to replace a key run‑scorer.
“I do think opening is a specialist position,” he said, noting that the role requires a particular mindset and technique. He also recalled how England have historically experimented with opening combinations, citing Mark Butcher and Alec Stewart as examples of players who shifted between the top three and the middle order.
The discussion then turned to the practicality of reshuffling the current England order. Hussain mentioned the possibility of moving Bethell up to open and placing Rew at number three, but recognised that Root would be reluctant to move down from his preferred number four slot. “Could you move Bethell up to open and have Rew at three?
The problem is obviously Root doesn’t want to move from four, so it is an interesting question,” he said. Atherton reinforced the idea that a player must be accustomed to batting in the top three at county level before being considered for a similar role in the national side. “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,” Atherton argued. He added that for a young player like Rew, the only realistic avenue to England is to secure a top‑order spot, because “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 hard to ignore.
He has amassed 379 runs at an average of 75.80, trailing only 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) and Oliver Cox (266 runs, 88.66). These figures underscore the depth of talent available, but also highlight how Rew’s consistency sets him apart.
Beyond the batting conversation, Atherton also used the platform to spotlight several bowlers who have caught his eye in the current season. He praised Sussex’s Henry Crocombe as an emerging fast bowler and highlighted the potential of Sam Cook, who, despite a modest showing in his recent Test debut, remains a promising talent at 28 and could be a mainstay in England’s pace attack for the next few years.
Cook’s performances for Warwickshire, alongside the likes of Ollie Robinson and Matt Fisher, suggest a healthy pipeline of seamers. Atherton also noted the continued excellence of Jimmy Anderson in Division Two, where the Lancashire legend is still taking wickets at an impressive rate. All of this analysis feeds into the broader narrative of England’s preparation for the home summer, which kicks off with a three‑Test series against New Zealand at Lord’s on 4 June.
The series will be a crucial proving ground for any new entrants, and the selectors will be under pressure to balance experience with emerging talent. If Rew can adapt to opening at the county level and demonstrate the temperament required for Test cricket, his case for inclusion will become compelling. Conversely, if Somerset keep him in the middle order, his pathway may be blocked by the entrenched senior players, leaving him to continue his prolific run‑scoring in the Championship without an international breakthrough. In summary, James Rew is undeniably one of the most exciting young batsmen in English domestic cricket.
His run‑making record, left‑handed stance and youthful energy make him an attractive option for England, particularly if the selectors decide to reshuffle the opening positions. The decision will hinge on whether Somerset are willing to move him to the top of the order, how the current openers perform in the lead‑up matches, and the strategic vision of the England coaching staff.
For now, Rew remains "knocking on the door" – a phrase that captures both his ambition and the uncertainty that still surrounds his potential Test debut.