Who are the current candidates for England's Test team? In a recent discussion, former captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain examined the potential impact of James Rew on the County Championship and his chances of earning a Test call‑up. James Rew has been the most prolific run‑getter in the domestic circuit this season, only surpassed by Jamie Smith in terms of sheer volume.
Yet the England middle order appears to be a well‑established block, with Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes all firmly entrenched. For the 22‑year‑old left‑hander the most realistic pathway into the senior side may be through the opening slots, where Somerset could look to him as a partner for the out‑of‑form Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett. If the county decides to promote Rew to the top of the order, England could be presented with a selection puzzle ahead of the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's on 4 June. The selectors would have to decide whether to slot the young batsman into the opening pair, keep the incumbent openers, or reshuffle the existing order to accommodate his form.
During the latest Sky Sports Cricket podcast, Atherton offered his perspective: "James Rew is piling on runs and looking very solid. The problem is that the middle order is effectively locked – you’re not going to break into it.
Opening the batting looks the only realistic option, especially because I don’t see Crawley getting a recall. The question is whether England would be willing to give a youngster a chance at the top of the order.
It also brings up the classic tension between what a county needs for its own success and what the national team requires for development." Former England captain Nasser Hussain added his thoughts, quoting cricket writer Steve James: "Steve says Rew should be knocking on Somerset’s door to ask for an opening slot, and given how well he’s been performing at four, the county could simply turn to him and say, ‘We’ll do what’s best for the team.’" Hussain also warned about the broader implications for Somerset: "If they start losing players to England, that could destabilise the side. Opening is a specialist role – you can’t just pluck anyone and expect them to succeed." The conversation then drifted into a brief reminder of the County Championship schedule for 2026, the current tables, and practical notes about watching cricket on Sky Sports, including a suggestion to download the Sky Sports app and to use Chrome for the best video experience.
Atherton continued, recalling his own experience as a young captain: "I became England captain at 25, and I always believed that to be considered for an opening slot at the Test level you have to be batting in the top three for your county. You can’t simply move a middle‑order batsman to the top and expect it to work. Mark Butcher opened at three, Alec Stewart did it, and even I opened for Lancashire.
Those were successful examples." He also referenced the failed experiment of moving Dan Lawrence up the order: "They tried that with Lawrence, it didn’t work, and it seemed like they were just keeping the position warm. Rew is scoring heavily, and you can see his technique – the way he plays the ball late, the footwork, the temperament – all the hallmarks of a potential opener." The discussion raised a tactical question about Jacob Bethell: "Bethell usually comes in at three and has never opened in first‑class cricket.
Could we move him to open and slot Rew at three? The problem is Root is unlikely to move from four, so it becomes a complex puzzle." Atherton stressed his belief that a player needs top‑three county experience to be considered for a Test opening role: "I wouldn’t force Root down the order just to make room. Dan Lawrence’s experiment showed that you can’t simply shuffle players around. Ideally a young prospect should be batting in the top three at county level before England thinks about using him as an opener." The statistics that underline Rew’s case were also highlighted: Jamie Smith – 396 runs at an average of 99.00; James Rew – 379 runs at 75.80; Tom Abell – 337 runs at 56.16; Joe Clarke – 273 runs at 68.25; Oliver Cox – 266 runs at 88.66; Ben Foakes – 255 runs at an astonishing 127.50.
These numbers illustrate the depth of scoring talent across the divisions and the difficulty the selectors face when trying to balance form, potential, and team balance. Atherton also turned his attention to the bowling side of the equation, noting a few names that have caught his eye ahead of the upcoming Surrey versus Essex match on Sky Sports Cricket.
He praised the lively pace of Sonny Baker, the developing swing of Henry Crocombe at Sussex, and the raw talent of Sam Cook, who despite a quiet first Test, remains a promising fast‑bowler in his late twenties. Atherton argued that Cook should not be dismissed on the basis of a single performance, especially when his peers like Ollie Robinson and Matt Fisher are also competing for places. He concluded by reminding listeners that the English summer will feature a three‑Test series against New Zealand, beginning on 4 June, and that the series will be streamed live on Sky Sports. Those without a subscription can watch via the free NOW platform.
In summary, James Rew’s extraordinary run‑making in the County Championship has placed him firmly on the radar of England’s selectors. The entrenched nature of the current middle order means his most viable route into the Test side is through the opening positions, either by displacing an under‑performing opener or by reshuffling the top of the order. The ongoing debate among former players underscores the delicate balance between county ambitions and national team requirements, and it will be fascinating to see how the next few weeks shape Rew’s future as a potential England Test opener.