The County Championship is now approaching the one‑month mark, and the performances of England's Test hopefuls are still leaving the selectors with more questions than answers. While several players have posted respectable scores, the hierarchy at the top of the batting order remains fluid, and the race for a place in the upcoming Test series against New Zealand is heating up. Opening partner Zak Crawley, whose form has been under intense scrutiny since his underwhelming Ashes showing, has struggled to make an impact for Kent in Division Two.
In the most recent match, which ended in an innings defeat at the hands of Worcestershire, Crawley managed scores of 27 and 31 – figures that do little to quiet the critics. His current Championship average sits at a modest 19.66, with a highest score of just 31 across six innings, suggesting that without a dramatic turnaround in May, his chances of retaining an England berth are slim.
In contrast, fellow opener Ben Duckett has been making a stronger case for himself. After a turbulent stint in Australia that was marred by off‑field distractions, Duckett produced a near‑century – 93 runs – for Nottinghamshire in a drawn encounter with Warwickshire. This innings lifted his season average to 45.25 and demonstrates that he can still deliver the kind of runs England needs at the top. However, Duckett will need to continue this form across Nottinghamshire's remaining three fixtures before the first Test to cement his position.
Adding further pressure to the selection picture are several in‑form county batsmen who have been piling up runs. Somerset wicket‑keeper James Rew has been a revelation at the No 4 slot, scoring heavily in all three of his appearances. He currently sits third on the Division One run‑scoring list with 337 runs at an impressive 75.07 average – second only to England’s current keeper Jamie Smith. Rew’s consistency has sparked a lively debate about whether he should be drafted into the England side, perhaps even as an opener, despite his lack of experience in that role.
Emilio Gay of Durham has also been impossible to ignore. After an opening‑match double‑hundred (128) against Kent, Gay followed it up with an unbeaten 159 against Lancashire, guiding Durham to chase down 336 for the loss of just eight wickets. His average of 86 in Division Two, coupled with a strike‑rate of 73.36, aligns well with the aggressive batting philosophy advocated by head coach Brendon McCullum.
Gay’s ability to dominate the middle order and accelerate the scoring rate makes him a strong candidate for a top‑order slot. Former England internationals Dom Sibley and Dan Lawrence have shown glimpses of a return to form for Surrey.
In a high‑scoring draw against Essex, Sibley posted 101 while Lawrence compiled 125. If they can sustain this level of performance, they could provide valuable depth and experience, potentially forcing the selectors to consider a broader pool of options. The spin department is equally unsettled. Derbyshire’s Shoaib Bashir, who was overlooked after a barren Ashes tour and a disastrous 0‑113 spell for the England Lions against Australia A, appears to be regaining confidence at county level, having taken nine wickets in three Championship games, including a four‑for against Lancashire.
Nonetheless, many believe Bashir would benefit from a period away from the international arena to rebuild his craft. Another spinner on the radar is Rehan Ahmed of Leicestershire.
The 21‑year‑old has taken six wickets for his county and possesses a more potent batting pedigree than Bashir. However, Ahmed has opted to skip the remaining county fixtures to join the Delhi Capitals in the IPL, where he will face stiff competition from Indian internationals such as Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel. This decision could limit his exposure ahead of the summer Tests. Will Jacks, Surrey’s all‑rounder, also chose the IPL route, leaving his county commitments for the subcontinent.
While his batting across formats remains solid, his recent bowling displays in Australia have raised doubts about his suitability as a frontline spinner for England. Veteran seamers are not faring much better.
Jack Leach, the third‑most successful wicket‑taker in the 2025 Championship, has managed only four wickets at an average of 46.75 this season, while former England all‑rounder Liam Dawson has taken six wickets at 49.00. The lack of standout performances among the spin and seam options underscores the urgency of the remaining County Championship rounds.
The upcoming fixtures provide a crucial platform for these players to make their case. Highlights include: - At Cardiff, Glamorgan posted 440 and 137‑2, drawing with a strong Leicestershire side that declared on 586‑7. - At Trent Bridge, Warwickshire’s 459 was matched by Nottinghamshire’s 279 and a 537‑7 declaration, featuring Duckett’s 93. - The Oval saw Essex compile 409 and 302‑2, while Surrey responded with 472, highlighted by Lawrence’s 125 and Sibley’s 101.
- At Headingley, Sussex’s 502 and 324‑8 set up a draw with Yorkshire’s 511, with contributions from Root and other England regulars. - In Derby, Gloucestershire’s 498 and 39‑0 secured a ten‑wicket win over Derbyshire. - At Chester‑le‑Street, Durham’s 295 and a chase of 336‑2, powered by Gay’s 159*, defeated Lancashire. - At New Road, Worcestershire’s 447 forced an innings victory over Kent.
As England prepares to launch its summer Test campaign against New Zealand, the performances in these county matches will likely dictate the final composition of the batting order and the spin options. Whether Rew’s rise, Gay’s explosive form, Duckett’s resurgence, or the resurgence of seasoned campaigners like Sibley and Lawrence will tip the scales remains to be seen, but the next few weeks promise to be decisive for England’s Test line‑up.