The County Championship is now approaching the one‑month mark, and the scramble for England's opening slots remains anything but settled. A steady stream of high scores from a range of Test hopefuls has only deepened the uncertainty surrounding the top of the order. Opener Zak Crawley, who has been under intense scrutiny since his lacklustre Ashes showing, has yet to find form for Kent in Division Two.
His most recent innings produced modest scores of 27 and 31, contributing to a heavy innings defeat at the hands of Worcestershire. Those numbers have left his average hovering around 19.66 across six innings, a figure that makes his continued presence in the England squad increasingly doubtful unless he can engineer a dramatic turnaround in the coming weeks. Across the same period, fellow opener Ben Duckett has taken a step forward. After a turbulent spell in Australia that saw his reputation questioned, Duckett responded with a solid 93 for Nottinghamshire in a drawn encounter with Warwickshire.
That performance lifted his season average to 45.25 and has given the selectors some reassurance that he still possesses the temperament required for the Test arena. However, the onus now lies on him to maintain that level across Nottinghamshire's remaining three fixtures before England's first summer Test against New Zealand.
Adding to the pressure are a host of in‑form county batsmen making strong cases for themselves. James Rew, Somerset's wicket‑keeper, has been a revelation at the No 4 position, accumulating 337 runs at an impressive 75.07 average in Division One – a tally only bested by current England keeper Jamie Smith. Rew's performances have sparked debate about whether he should be drafted into the national side, perhaps even reshuffling the established middle order that includes Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and captain Ben Stokes. Emilio Gay, the Durham opener, has also been knocking loudly on the door.
After a debut‑match century of 128 against Kent, Gay produced a scintillating unbeaten 159 against Lancashire, steering Durham to a successful chase of 336 runs. His current average of 86 in Division Two, combined with a strike‑rate of 73.36, suggests he can adapt to the aggressive style favoured by England head coach Brendon McCullum. Gay's experience as a first‑class opener adds further weight to his claim for a Test berth.
Former England internationals Dom Sibley and Dan Lawrence have re‑emerged for Surrey, each posting centuries – 101 and 125 respectively – in a high‑scoring draw against Essex. Their resurgence could provide England with additional depth in the top order, offering selectors more flexibility should either maintain this form. The spinner’s slot remains equally contentious.
Shoaib Bashir, who endured a barren Ashes tour and a demoralising 0‑113 spell for the England Lions, appears to be reviving his fortunes at Derbyshire, claiming nine wickets in three Championship matches, including a four‑for against Lancashire. Yet many argue that a summer away from international duties would benefit him more than a rushed recall. Rehan Ahmed, once hailed as a leading spin prospect, has opted to skip the next month of red‑ball cricket to join the Delhi Capitals in the IPL.
This decision places him in direct competition with Indian spin stars Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel, potentially limiting his playing time just when England might need a fresh option. Similarly, Will Jacks has chosen the subcontinent over Surrey, leaving his county contributions in question and casting doubt on his viability as a Test bowler despite his batting credentials. Veteran left‑arm spinner Jack Leach, who finished as the third‑most prolific wicket‑taker in the 2025 Championship, has started this campaign modestly with four wickets at an average of 46.75.
Former England all‑rounder Liam Dawson mirrors that trend, picking up six wickets at 49.00. The scarcity of standout spin performances underscores the difficulty selectors face as they weigh form, experience and the need for balance.
With just over a month remaining before England opens its summer Test series against New Zealand – a series to be broadcast live on Sky Sports – the upcoming County Championship rounds could prove decisive. The fixtures scheduled between Friday 24 April and Monday 27 April offer a snapshot of the current landscape: - At Cardiff, Glamorgan posted 440 and 137‑2, drawing with Leicestershire, who declared on 586‑7. - At Trent Bridge, Warwickshire made 459, while Nottinghamshire responded with 279 and 537‑7 declared, featuring centuries from Hameed, Verreynne, Duckett and Clarke.
- At the Oval, Essex compiled 409 and 302‑2 declared, drawing with Surrey's 472, which included centuries from Lawrence and Sibley. - At Headingley, Sussex amassed 502 and 324‑8, drawing with Yorkshire's 511, highlighted by a double‑century partnership from Bean and Whiteman. - At Derby, Gloucestershire posted 498 and quickly dismissed Derbyshire for a combined 533, winning by ten wickets.
- At Chester‑le‑Street, Durham's 295 and 336‑2 (Gay 159*) secured an eight‑wicket victory over Lancashire. - At New Road, Worcestershire's 447 forced Kent to follow on, resulting in an innings defeat. These results illustrate the depth of talent bubbling through the county ranks and the fine margins that will shape England's final Test squad. Whether the selectors choose to gamble on emerging names like Rew, Gay and Duckett, or lean on the experience of Sibley, Lawrence and the established middle order, will hinge on the performances delivered in the remaining county matches.
The next three weeks promise to be a crucible for England's top‑order hopefuls, and the outcomes will likely define the composition of the side that takes the field against New Zealand later this summer.