The question on everyone’s mind this summer is which county performers will earn a place in England’s Test side. Former captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain recently weighed in on the case of James Rew, the 22‑year‑old left‑handed batsman who has been tearing up the County Championship for Somerset. Rew currently tops the national run‑scoring charts, second only to Jamie Smith, and his prolific form has sparked a lively debate about where he might fit into the England XI.
At the moment England’s middle order appears to be a settled unit. Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes and the emerging Jacob Bethell have all cemented their places, leaving little room for a newcomer in the heart of the lineup. That reality forces Rew to consider an alternative route: opening the innings for Somerset and, by extension, for England. The opening slots are under pressure, with Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett both struggling for consistency.
If Rew can prove himself at the top of the order in the domestic game, the England selectors may feel compelled to give him a chance at Lord’s when the first Test against New Zealand begins on 4 June. During a recent episode of the Sky Sports Cricket podcast, Atherton highlighted the paradox facing Rew. "He’s scoring runs for a living, but the middle order is essentially locked up. The only realistic opening is to push him up the order," he said.
"Crawley looks unlikely to be retained, so there could be a vacancy at one‑down. The bigger issue is balancing what Somerset need for their own success with what England require for the long‑term development of a player like Rew. It’s a tricky balance." Hussain, who captained England from 1999 to 2003, echoed those sentiments and added a strategic layer to the discussion. He quoted former Glamorgan player‑turned‑writer Steve James, who suggested that Somerset should simply ask Rew to open the innings.
"If he’s already performing at four, why not give him the chance to open? It would be a win‑win for both county and country," Hussain argued.
He also warned that Somerset could lose a key batsman if England call him up, noting that opening is a specialist role that cannot be handed over lightly. The two legends also debated the feasibility of reshuffling the current England top order.
Atherton stressed that any player hoping to open for England must be batting in the top three for their county side. "You can’t expect a number‑four at county level to instantly become an opener at Test level," he said. "Root, for example, is unlikely to move down the order, and the experiment with Dan Lawrence at three didn’t work out.
The only realistic path for Rew is to secure a top‑three spot with Somerset first." Hussain raised the possibility of moving Bethell up to open while slotting Rew at three, but acknowledged the domino effect such a change would trigger. "Root doesn’t want to move from four, and the England team would need to accommodate that shift.
It’s a complex puzzle," he explained. Both pundits agreed that the England selectors will have to weigh Rew’s domestic dominance against the stability of the existing order. Beyond the Rew debate, Atherton used the podcast to spotlight other County Championship talents who could be on England’s radar. He praised Sussex’s young quick Henry Crocombe and Somerset’s Sonny Baker for their pace and wicket‑taking ability.
He also defended Sam Cook, who had a quiet outing at Edgbaston but, according to Atherton, deserves a longer look. "Cook is 28, entering his prime.
He shouldn’t be judged on one off‑day; his skill set fits the line‑bowler profile England often seeks," Atherton said, naming Ollie Robinson and Matt Fisher as his main competition. The discussion also touched on the broader context of the 2026 County Championship.
With the tables shaping up and several divisions still undecided, performances in the domestic arena will carry extra weight as England prepares for a home summer that includes a three‑Test series against New Zealand starting on 4 June. Sky Sports will broadcast the matches, and fans can follow live coverage via the Sky Sports app or the NOW streaming service. In summary, James Rew’s case illustrates the tension between raw statistical success and the practical realities of team composition. His 379 runs at an average of 75.80 place him among the elite scorers, but the pathway to a Test debut likely runs through an opening berth at Somerset.
If he can adjust his technique to the demands of opening—playing the new ball, negotiating swing, and rotating the strike—England may have a compelling option to refresh a middle order that has shown signs of fatigue. The next few weeks, especially the upcoming County Championship fixtures, will be crucial for Rew and for the England selectors as they decide whether to keep the status quo or to gamble on a rising star who could become the next long‑term opener for the national side.