James Rew’s rise puts England’s opener dilemma in spotlight for 2026

Somerset’s James Rew is averaging 75.80 after five innings this season, scoring four fifties and a century, fueling England’s debate over his Test debut.

Rew’s early-season surge Three weeks into the county season, Somerset opener James Rew is quickly establishing himself as a serious contender for England’s post-Ashes rebuild. With 379 runs in six innings, his tally is second only to Surrey’s Jamie Smith, though Rew has played one extra match. Among those runs are four half-centuries and a century in the season’s opener against Nottinghamshire, taking his first-class tally to 12 hundreds at just 22 years old. That matches the number of Test centuries Zak Crawley has managed across his entire career so far. ## The opener puzzle for England The most pressing issue for England’s selectors is the vacancy at the top of the batting order, which appears the most vulnerable spot following the Ashes. Rew, however, has never opened the bat in first-class cricket, with his highest innings coming at number three—where his recent hundred was scored. His List A experience includes four attempts at opening, producing a hundred and a 96, but his primary role for Somerset has been elsewhere. The Aussies often prioritize selecting the strongest XI first and then finalize positions later, and England may consider the same approach with Rew, even if it means asking him to open in Test matches. ## Somerset’s view on Rew’s potential Somerset coach Jason Kerr has stated Rew is “absolutely” capable of opening for England, and those close to the player describe him as someone with the mental strength and old-school approach needed to thrive at the top of an international order. Rew is known for his resilience in occupation at the crease when required, and his willingness to play unorthodox shots like the reverse sweep adds a modern edge to his game. England’s previous attempt to deploy a non-specialist opener with Dan Lawrence 18 months ago ended poorly, making Rew’s potential Test debut at the top against New Zealand’s pace attack a significant gamble. ## A chance to test Rew’s opening role Before a potential Test debut, Rew could get a trial run opening the batting for England Lions in two matches against South Africa A scheduled for May. Back at Somerset, a shift up the order may also occur if his younger brother Thomas takes over wicketkeeping duties after completing his A-levels this summer. By that stage, Rew could already be an England player, depending on national selectors’ decisions. ## Alternative batting order adjustments England’s middle order looks secure with Joe Root, Harry Brook, and captain Ben Stokes locked in at four, five, and six. Jamie Smith, despite a poor Ashes, has returned to form for Surrey, keeping his spot likely. If Rew is included, one solution could see Smith move from seven to bat at three without keeping wicket, a role he has thrived in at Surrey by regaining a natural rhythm. This would free up the gloves for Rew to bat at seven, a position where he has scored 10 of his 12 first-class hundreds for Somerset. ## Evaluating Rew’s glovework and batting style Rew’s keeping is regarded as competent rather than outstanding, potentially affected by some heavy footwork. England typically prefers their number seven batter to be dynamic and capable of counter-attacking with the tail. While Rew has a range of batting gears, they are not as extensive as Smith’s, adding another layer to the selection puzzle. Moving Jacob Bethell to open could be another option, given his talent and temperament, though he has only recently settled at number three after a century in Sydney during the final Ashes Test. ## The risks of reshuffling the order Rearranging the top order to fit Rew in may require too much upheaval, particularly if it involves shifting both Bethell and Smith. Bethell has played minimal first-class cricket outside England duty, with just one county appearance for Warwickshire since August 2024, suggesting he could still be molded into a new role. However, the potential disruption to a settled lineup could outweigh the benefits of including Rew, especially with limited preparation time before the first Test against New Zealand on June 4 at Lord’s. ## Waiting for others to stake a claim A decision on Rew and the rest of the England squad will also depend on the new selector, whose applications closed last Friday. There remains ample time for others to press their cases, as most counties have four more matches before the first Test, alongside the two Lions fixtures against South Africa A. Zak Crawley could rediscover form to retain his opener spot, while specialist options like Durham’s Ben McKinney and Emilio Gay, or Glamorgan’s Asa Tribe, have begun the season strongly. ## Spin and pace bowling uncertainties England may have two batting spots available in the Test squad, partly due to the need for cover in the top seven. On the bowling front, Shoaib Bashir had a difficult winter and is rebuilding form with increased county opportunities at Derbyshire. If Bashir is selected when not playing for his county, would he be dropped when he is? Other spin options include Jack Leach, Liam Dawson, and leg-spinner Mason Crane, who last played a Test over eight years ago. Jacks holds the incumbent spinner role, with all-rounders Rehan Ahmed and James Coles also in contention. ## Fast bowling vacancies and contenders England’s fast-bowling department faces its most uncertain period in over 20 years, with James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Chris Woakes, and likely Mark Wood unavailable. Brydon Carse is sidelined with a broken wrist, and Jofra Archer is currently in the Indian Premier League. Gus Atkinson, recovering from a hamstring injury sustained during the Ashes, is expected to return alongside Josh Tongue for the series against New Zealand. Sonny Baker, who holds a central contract, has started the season impressively after early struggles in white-ball debuts. ## New-ball bowling options under scrutiny England are eager to identify a new-ball bowler to replace the retired Woakes. Matthew Fisher was called into the Ashes squad, and Tom Lawes is highly regarded, though both play for a Surrey team that has struggled to take wickets in the Championship’s first two rounds. Sam Cook earned a single Test cap last year, a sample size too small to assess the prolific Essex seamer. Ollie Robinson, now 32 and Sussex captain, has taken 76 wickets at an average below 23 but has not played for England in over a year. ## Robinson’s case for a recall Many consider Robinson the best new-ball bowler in England despite his age. With Sussex winning their first two county matches under his leadership, his credentials appear strong. The question remains whether England can afford to overlook him after a year away from international duty. His omission so far suggests selectors may still be undecided on the best path forward for the pace bowling unit ahead of the New Zealand series.