We are now approaching the one‑month mark of the 2026 County Championship, and the race for England's Test opening slots remains as unsettled as ever. A steady stream of big innings from a wide pool of Test‑hopefuls has only added to the confusion surrounding who will ultimately claim the coveted top‑order places.
Current England opener Zak Crawley, who has been under intense scrutiny since his under‑whelming Ashes showing last winter, has yet to find form in Division Two with Kent. In the most recent match, which ended in an innings defeat at the hands of Worcestershire, Crawley managed modest scores of 27 and 31, leaving his average at a disappointing 19.66 after six innings.
Unless he produces a dramatic turnaround in the coming weeks, his chances of retaining a place in the national side look increasingly slim. By contrast, fellow opener Ben Duckett has been making a stronger case.
After a shaky start to the season, Duckett posted a polished 93 in Nottinghamshire's draw against Warwickshire, pushing his season average up to 45.25. Those runs not only helped Nottinghamshire secure a respectable point but also reminded the selectors that Duckett still possesses the temperament required for Test cricket. He now faces the task of converting that momentum into runs in Nottinghamshire's remaining three fixtures before England's opening Test against New Zealand.
Adding further pressure to the selection picture is the emergence of several in‑form county batsmen. Somerset wicket‑keeper James Rew has been a revelation at the No 4 slot, scoring heavily in all three of his appearances. His Division One tally of 337 runs at an average of 75.07 places him just behind current England keeper Jamie Smith, making him a prime candidate for a higher‑order role. Meanwhile, Durham’s Emilio Gay is turning heads with an eye‑popping average of 86, highlighted by a blistering 159‑not‑out against Lancashire that helped Durham chase down 336 with eight wickets to spare.
Gay’s strike‑rate of 73.36 and his experience as a first‑class opener align well with the aggressive batting philosophy championed by England head coach Brendon McCullum. Former England internationals Dom Sibley and Dan Lawrence have also resurfaced in the conversation. Both posted centuries for Surrey in a high‑scoring draw with Essex—Sibley made 101 and Lawrence 125—demonstrating that they still have the firepower to contribute at the highest level.
Their performances could force the selectors to consider additional top‑order options, especially if they maintain this level of consistency. The potential inclusion of James Rew raises tactical questions. Rew has never opened in first‑class cricket, yet his run‑scoring prowess has sparked speculation about reshuffling the traditional middle order that currently includes Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and captain Ben Stokes. Former England captain Michael Atherton even suggested on the Sky Sports Cricket podcast that Bethell could be moved up the order to accommodate Rew at three, highlighting the depth of the debate.
While the batting debate rages, England’s search for a frontline spinner continues. Derbyshire’s Shoaib Bashir has been the most successful spinner in the county circuit this spring, claiming nine wickets in three Championship matches, including a four‑for against Lancashire. Nevertheless, his limited exposure at the international level—no appearances on the recent Ashes tour and a costly 0‑113 spell for the England Lions against Australia A—means his future remains uncertain.
Another spinner on the radar is 21‑year‑old Rehan Ahmed of Leicestershire, who has taken six wickets this season and is regarded as a more potent batting option than Bashir. However, Ahmed has opted to skip the remainder of the domestic season to join the Delhi Capitals in the IPL, a decision that could see him miss valuable red‑ball practice just as England’s Test schedule ramps up. He will also be competing for playing time with Indian internationals Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel in the IPL side. Will Jacks, Surrey’s all‑rounder, faces a similar dilemma.
He has chosen to prioritize the IPL over county cricket, leaving his county appearances limited. While his batting credentials are strong, his recent struggles with the ball in Australia cast doubt on his viability as a Test‑level spinner.
Veteran off‑spinner Jack Leach, the third‑most‑successful wicket‑taker in the 2025 Championship, has had a slow start this year, picking up just four wickets at an average of 46.75. Former England all‑rounder Liam Dawson mirrors that trend with six wickets at 49.00.
The paucity of standout spin options underscores the difficulty the England selectors face as they try to assemble a balanced side. The upcoming three rounds of the County Championship will be pivotal.
Performances in these matches could cement or derail the hopes of several contenders. Below is a recap of the fixtures that have already taken place between Friday 24 April and Monday 27 April: - **Cardiff:** Glamorgan posted 440 (Crane 99, Carlson 95, Dickson 90) and declared at 137‑2, drawing with Leicestershire who made 586‑7 declared (Tattersall 112, Weatherald 104 ret hurt, Cox 68*). - **Trent Bridge:** Warwickshire scored 459 (Barnard 165, Booth 70, Woakes 64, Tongue 5‑124) and drew with Nottinghamshire, who posted 279 and then 537‑7 declared (Hameed 115, Verreynne 115, Duckett 93, Clarke 82; Webster 2‑55). - **The Oval:** Essex made 409 (Walter 101) and 302‑2 declared (Westley 136, Elgar 107*; Atkinson 1‑12) against Surrey’s 472 (Lawrence 125, Sibley 101; Harmer 3‑69).
- **Headingley:** Sussex compiled 502 (Simpson 136, Price 93, Haines 64) and 324‑8 (Clark 93, Coles 53, Robinson 41*; Root 3‑67) drawing with Yorkshire’s 511 (Bean 105, Whiteman 101, Root 96, Coles 3‑138). - **Derby:** Gloucestershire posted 498 (Hammond 145) and 39‑0, beating Derbyshire’s 281 and 252 (f/o) (Montgomery 74; Bell 3‑44) by ten wickets. - **Chester‑le‑Street:** Durham recorded 295 and 336‑2 (Gay 159*, Bedingham 129*) to defeat Lancashire’s 370 (Harris 146 & 260‑9 declared (Coughlin 100*; Raine 3‑50)) by eight wickets.
- **New Road:** Worcestershire made 447 (D'Oliveira 90, Hose 70) and defeated Kent’s 196 and 249 (Benjamin 77, Taylor 5‑56) by an innings and two runs. These results illustrate the depth of talent currently on display across the counties and highlight why the selection debate remains so heated. As England prepares to launch its summer Test campaign against New Zealand, the performances in the remaining Championship fixtures will likely determine which batsmen and bowlers earn the final nods to the national squad.