The question on everyone’s lips this season is whether James Rew can realistically break into England’s Test side. Former captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain weighed in on the subject during a recent Sky Sports Cricket podcast, examining Rew’s remarkable run‑scoring form in the County Championship and the structural challenges he faces in the national middle order.
Rew, a 22‑year‑old left‑handed batsman, is currently the second‑most prolific run‑getter in the domestic circuit, trailing only Jamie Smith. His tally of 379 runs at an average of 75.80 underscores a consistency that few peers can match.
Yet, despite these numbers, the pathway to a Test debut is anything but straightforward. England’s current middle order appears set in stone, with Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes all firmly entrenched. This reality forces Rew to contemplate a different route: opening the innings for Somerset and positioning himself as a potential replacement for the under‑performing openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett.
Atherton opened the discussion by acknowledging Rew’s form. “James Rew is getting lots of runs and playing really well,” he said, before noting the bottleneck in the middle order. “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 emphasized that a successful transition to the national side would likely require Rew to prove himself as an opener at county level, a role that demands a distinct skill set compared to batting in the middle. Hussain, who captained England from 1999 to 2003, added a historical perspective.
He recalled former Glamorgan and England player‑turned‑writer Steve James, who suggested that Rew should press Somerset to give him an opening slot. “If he’s done so well at four, then they could just turn to him and say, ‘we’ll do what’s best for us,’” Hussain noted, highlighting the tension between county priorities and national ambitions. He also warned that opening is a specialist position and that Somerset would need to balance the risk of losing a key batsman to England against the potential benefits of developing a future Test opener. The conversation turned to practical scenarios.
Atherton argued that any player hoping to open for England must first be a regular top‑three batsman for his county. “I wouldn’t be shoving Root in from the middle order if that’s where he’s staying,” he said, referencing the failed experiment of moving Dan Lawrence up the order.
“You’ve got to be batting in the top three.” He suggested that Rew could be slotted at number three for England if Somerset were willing to move Bethell to the opening position, but acknowledged the logistical nightmare this would create for the existing hierarchy, especially with Root reluctant to shift from his preferred number four slot. Beyond the opening dilemma, both pundits highlighted other emerging talents in the Championship who could influence England’s selection calculus. Atherton listed the likes of Sonny Baker, a quick‑bowling prospect showing promise, and Henry Crocombe of Sussex, a developing seam bowler. He also praised Sam Cook, despite a modest showing in his recent Test debut, arguing that a single performance should not define a bowler’s future.
“He’s 28, should be in his prime for a few more years, and knocking on the door with wickets,” Atherton asserted, noting competition from the likes of Ollie Robinson and Matt Fisher. The broader context of the upcoming home summer adds urgency to these discussions.
England is set to host New Zealand for a three‑Test series beginning on June 4 at Lord’s, followed by a packed schedule of home internationals. The selectors will be under pressure to field a side that balances experience with fresh talent, especially if the top order continues to underperform. Rew’s inclusion would not only inject youthful vigor but also provide a left‑handed option at the top, something England has occasionally lacked.
Statistically, Rew’s numbers sit alongside other notable performers. Jamie Smith leads the run‑scoring charts with 396 runs at an average of 99.00, while Tom Abell, Joe Clarke, Oliver Cox and Ben Foakes also post impressive figures. Yet, Rew’s strike rate and ability to dominate bowlers in the later stages of his innings make him a compelling candidate for a more prominent role.
The practicalities of selection remain complex. If England were to call Rew up for the first Test, the team management would need to decide whether to insert him at number three, push him to open, or perhaps use him as a flexible middle‑order option in case of injury.
Each scenario carries implications for team balance, partnership dynamics, and the development pathways of other young players like Bethell and Brook. In summary, James Rew is undeniably one of the brightest batting talents emerging from the County Championship.
His prolific run‑scoring, left‑handed stance, and composure under pressure make a strong case for national consideration. However, the entrenched nature of England’s current middle order and the specialist demands of opening mean that his route to a Test cap will likely require a strategic shift at Somerset, coupled with a clear plan from the England selectors. As the summer approaches and the New Zealand series looms, the cricketing community will be watching closely to see whether Rew can translate his domestic dominance into an international debut, and whether Somerset will grant him the opening berth that could unlock his full potential for the England side.