As the County Championship approaches its one‑month mark, the battle for England's opening slots remains anything but resolved. A flood of big scores from several Test hopefuls has only deepened the uncertainty surrounding the top‑order composition for the upcoming summer series.
Opener Zak Crawley, who has been under intense scrutiny since his underwhelming Ashes outings, has yet to find his footing in Division Two with Kent. His recent innings of 27 and 31 in a heavy innings defeat to Worcestershire did little to silence the critics, leaving his average at a modest 19.66 across six innings. Unless he can engineer a dramatic turnaround in the short window before May ends, his chances of retaining a place in the England Test side appear slim. In contrast, fellow opener Ben Duckett has taken a step forward.
After a modest first‑innings half‑century, he produced a commanding 93 for Nottinghamshire against Warwickshire, nudging his season average up to 45.25. This performance not only bolsters his claim to remain in the Test setup but also serves as a reminder of his resilience after a turbulent stint in Australia that saw off‑field issues cloud his reputation. Duckett now faces the task of sustaining this form across Nottinghamshire's remaining three fixtures before the first England Test. Adding further pressure to the selection picture is the emergence of a group of in‑form county batsmen.
Somerset's wicket‑keeper James Rew has been a revelation at the No 4 position, amassing 337 runs at an astonishing 75.07 average in Division One – a figure eclipsed only by current England keeper Jamie Smith. Rew's consistency has sparked a lively debate about whether he should be thrust into the England lineup, perhaps even displacing established middle‑order stalwarts such as Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook, and captain Ben Stokes.
Emilio Gay, another rising star, has been knocking loudly on the door. After a debut‑match 128 for Durham against Kent, he followed it up with a blistering unbeaten 159 against Lancashire, steering Durham to an eight‑wicket victory while chasing 336.
Gay's strike‑rate of 73.36 and his extensive experience as a first‑class opener make him a compelling candidate for the fast‑paced, aggressive batting style favoured by England head coach Brendon McCullum. Former England internationals Dom Sibley and Dan Lawrence have also resurfaced with impressive centuries – 101 and 125 respectively – in Surrey's high‑scoring draw with Essex. Their resurgence could give the selectors additional top‑order options, especially if they can sustain this level of performance. The spinner’s slot is equally contested.
Derbyshire’s Shoaib Bashir, who struggled to break into the England side during the Ashes tour and posted a dismal 0‑113 for the Lions against Australia A, appears to be regaining confidence at county level, claiming nine wickets in three Championship matches, including a four‑for against Lancashire. Yet many observers argue that a summer away from international duties might be the best route for Bashir to rebuild his reputation. Another name frequently mentioned is 21‑year‑old Rehan Ahmed of Leicestershire.
Ahmed has taken six wickets for his county and boasts a stronger batting pedigree than Bashir, but he has chosen to skip the next month of red‑ball cricket to join the Delhi Capitals in the IPL. This decision pits him against Indian spin stars Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel for a spot in the Delhi side and risks a period of limited match practice just as England’s selection window narrows. Will Jacks, the Surrey all‑rounder, faces a similar dilemma.
While his batting across formats remains solid enough to warrant middle‑order consideration, his recent lack of impact with the ball in Australia casts doubt on his viability as a frontline spinner for England. Veteran off‑spinner Jack Leach, the third‑most prolific wicket‑taker in the 2025 Championship, has opened the 2026 season slowly, picking up only four wickets at an average of 46.75.
Former England bowler Liam Dawson mirrors this tepid start with six wickets at 49.00. The scarcity of standout spin options underscores the pressure on the selectors to make decisive choices in the remaining three rounds of the Championship. The upcoming county fixtures could prove pivotal.
Highlights include: - Glamorgan’s 440 & 137/2 draw with Leicestershire’s 586/7 declared, featuring centuries from Crane (99) and Tattersall (112). - Nottinghamshire’s 93 from Duckett in a drawn match against Warwickshire, where Barnard posted 165 for Warwickshire. - Durham’s chase of 336, powered by Gay’s unbeaten 159 and Bedingham’s 129, securing an eight‑wicket win over Lancashire.
- Surrey’s 125 from Lawrence and 101 from Sibley in a high‑scoring draw with Essex. With just over a month left before England opens its summer Test series against New Zealand, the performances in these games will likely tip the scales.
Whether Rew secures a spot in the top order, Duckett cements his opening berth, Gay earns a call‑up, or the spinner’s role is filled by Bashir, Ahmed, or another contender will depend on how they finish the Championship and the impressions they leave on the England coaching staff. The stakes are high, and the next few weeks of county cricket will be closely monitored by selectors, pundits, and fans alike, all eager to see which players rise to claim the coveted England Test jerseys.