The conversation around England's upcoming Test line‑up has turned sharply toward a young Somerset batsman who has been lighting up the County Championship. Michael Atherton and former England captain Nasser Hussain recently debated James Rew's chances of breaking into the national side, weighing his impressive run‑scoring record against the entrenched middle order that currently includes Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes. At just 22, Rew is already the second‑most prolific scorer in the domestic competition, trailing only Jamie Smith, and his performances have sparked speculation that he could be the answer to England's opening‑bat problems, especially if the selectors decide to give Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett a rest. In the latest episode of the Sky Sports Cricket podcast, Atherton highlighted the paradox facing the England selectors: "James Rew is getting lots of runs and playing really well.
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 stress that any call‑up for Rew would likely require him to open, noting the delicate balance between a county's desire to retain its top talent and the national team's need to develop future stars.
"Can you open the batting for England? That's really the question," Atherton said, adding that the county‑national relationship is always a tricky one. Hussain, who led England from 1999 to 2003, echoed similar concerns.
He quoted former Glamorgan player‑turned‑journalist Steve James, who suggested that Rew should be knocking on Somerset's door to request an opening slot. Hussain warned that Somerset could lose a key player if England were to call him up, and he underscored that opening the innings is a specialist role. "Three to open.
I'm not that fussed about. Mark Butcher was three open. 'Gaffer' [Alec Stewart] used to do it and you used to do it, didn't you? And then you opened for Lancashire and everything that followed from that," he recalled, pointing out that England has historically experimented with moving established middle‑order batsmen up the order, with mixed results.
The former captain also raised the practical dilemma of reshuffling the current order. "Bethell's one that came in about at three and has never done it before in first‑class cricket. 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," Hussain mused. He noted that Dan Lawrence's brief stint at three did not work out, suggesting that any reshuffle would need to be carefully managed to avoid destabilising the side. Both pundits agreed that for a young player like Rew to earn a Test cap, he would need to prove himself not just as a prolific scorer but as a genuine opening batsman. Atherton stressed the importance of top‑three county experience: "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," he said.
"Ideally for him, he would be batting in the top three. And maybe that will come to pass. If you're a young kid looking at where you're going to get in the England side and everybody has ambitions and wants to play at the highest level, 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. In the current Championship season he has amassed 379 runs at an average of 75.80, second only to Jamie Smith's 396 runs at a flawless 99.00. Behind them sit Tom Abell (337 runs, 56.16), Joe Clarke (273 runs, 68.25) and Oliver Cox (266 runs, 88.66). Even Ben Foakes, a seasoned England player, boasts a higher average (127.50) but with far fewer runs, underscoring the consistency Rew has shown over a larger sample size.
Atherton also used the podcast to highlight other emerging talents in the County Championship who could bolster England's ranks. He praised Somerset's Sonny Baker for his lively pace and wicket‑taking ability, and Sussex's Henry Crocombe as a promising young fast bowler. Sam Cook, despite a lacklustre showing in his recent Test debut, was described as a bowler with potential who should not be dismissed after one off‑day.
"If they're looking for a line‑bowler and an English‑style bowler, I mean, he's got competition. Ollie Robinson and Matt Fisher, I suppose, are his competition. But I think Sam Cook's a good bowler. He's 28 and should be in his prime yet for two or three years and knocking on the door with wickets," Atherton noted.
The discussion also touched on the broader context of England's summer schedule. The national side will host New Zealand for a three‑Test series beginning on 4 June at Lord's, followed by a packed home summer featuring a range of limited‑overs fixtures. Sky Sports will broadcast the entire programme, and fans without a subscription are encouraged to stream via the NOW platform.
The podcast concluded with a reminder that the County Championship continues to be a fertile ground for talent, with the 2026 fixtures and tables closely monitored by the England selectors. In summary, James Rew's case for England hinges on his ability to transition from a dominant middle‑order performer in the county game to a reliable opener at the international level.
The current England middle order is effectively locked, leaving the opening slots as the most realistic pathway for a newcomer. If Somerset are willing to promote Rew to the top of the order and if the England board sees a genuine need for a fresh opener ahead of the New Zealand series, Rew could very well find himself knocking on Lord's doors sooner rather than later.