The conversation about who might earn a place in England's Test side has turned to the young left‑handed batter James Rew, who has been lighting up the County Championship for Somerset. In a recent Sky Sports Cricket podcast, former England captains Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain weighed in on Rew's chances and the broader dilemmas facing the national selectors. Rew, only 22, is currently the second‑most prolific run‑scorer in the domestic competition, trailing only Jamie Smith.
His tally of 379 runs at an average of 75.80 places him firmly among the elite performers this season. Yet the England middle order appears set, with the likes of Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes all firmly entrenched.
This reality forces Rew to consider a different pathway to the Test arena – perhaps by opening the innings for Somerset and forcing the national side to rethink its top‑order composition. Atherton opened the discussion by acknowledging Rew's form: "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 the importance of aligning county roles with England's needs, noting that a player who consistently opens for his county is more likely to be trusted in the same position at the international level. "Can you open the batting for England? That's really the question," he said, adding that the balance between Somerset's ambitions and England's developmental goals is a delicate one. Hussain, who captained England from 1999 to 2003, echoed the sentiment but added a tactical twist.
He quoted former Glamorgan player‑turned‑journalist Steve James, who suggested that Rew should simply ask Somerset to move him up the order. "If he's done so well at four, they could just turn to him and say, 'we'll do what's best for us'," Hussain remarked.
He highlighted the specialist nature of opening, pointing out that losing a top‑order batsman to England could destabilise Somerset's own championship campaign. Yet he also referenced historical precedents, such as Mark Butcher and Alec Stewart, who successfully transitioned from opening at county level to the Test arena. Both former captains agreed that the current England set‑up leaves little room for a newcomer in the middle order. Dan Lawrence's brief experiment at three proved ineffective, and Root is unlikely to abandon his preferred number‑four slot.
This leaves the opening positions as the most realistic avenue for Rew. "Bethell's one that came in about at three and has never done it before in first‑class cricket," Hussain observed. "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." The statistics reinforce the debate. In the 2026 County Championship, Jamie Smith leads with 396 runs at a stunning 99.00 average, while Rew follows closely with 379 runs at 75.80.
Behind them sit Tom Abell (337 runs, 56.16), Joe Clarke (273 runs, 68.25) and Oliver Cox (266 runs, 88.66). These numbers illustrate that Rew is not just a flash in the pan; he is delivering consistent, high‑quality performances against quality bowling attacks across both divisions. Beyond Rew, Atherton used the platform to highlight other emerging talents that could bolster England's squad for the upcoming New Zealand series at Lord's on June 4.
He mentioned Sonny Baker, a quick bowler showing promise, and Henry Crocombe of Sussex, a developing fast‑bowler with pace and swing. Sam Cook, despite a modest showing in his recent Test debut, was praised for his potential longevity; at 28, he is entering what many consider a bowler's prime years. Atherton also noted the continued excellence of Jimmy Anderson, who, even in Division Two, is leading Lancashire with a prolific wicket haul.
The broader context of the discussion touches on the strategic challenge England faces: balancing the immediate need for proven performers with the long‑term goal of nurturing home‑grown talent. The selectors must decide whether to reshuffle the top order to accommodate a rising star like Rew or to maintain the status quo and risk stalling his development. As Atherton put it, "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, there’s only one place at the moment, isn’t there? And that’s at the top of the order." In practical terms, if Rew were to be called up for the first Test against New Zealand, England would need to decide whether to slot him at number three, push Bethell up to open, or perhaps experiment with a flexible opening partnership that includes Rew and an experienced opener like Zak Crawley.
The decision will have ripple effects on Somerset’s championship campaign, as losing a key batsman could weaken their batting depth. The conversation also highlighted the importance of adaptability in modern cricket.
While traditional roles still hold sway, the game increasingly rewards players who can adjust to different positions and responsibilities. Rew’s ability to play both as an opener and a middle‑order anchor could be a valuable asset, provided he receives consistent opportunities at the highest level. In summary, James Rew has built a compelling case for himself through sheer run‑scoring consistency in the County Championship. Yet the entrenched England middle order and the specialist nature of opening mean his path to a Test cap is likely to be through the top of the order.
The upcoming series against New Zealand will be a litmus test for England's willingness to innovate and for Rew's readiness to seize the chance. As the Sky Sports Cricket podcast concluded, the balance between county ambitions and national requirements remains a tricky equation, but one that could be solved by giving a talented youngster like Rew the platform he deserves.