Somerset's James Rew tipped to open for England in 2026

England's top-order batting slots are wide open after Ashes struggles, with Somerset's James Rew emerging as a top candidate to fill the role.

England's openers under pressure The England Test team faces selection upheaval at the top after their heavy 4-1 Ashes loss in Australia. Established openers Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett showed poor form, with Crawley managing just 60 runs in four County Championship innings this summer and Duckett scoring 26 in his only Nottinghamshire appearance. Somerset wicketkeeper-batter James Rew has seized the opportunity, delivering strong performances this season. ## Rew's rising star at Somerset James Rew, aged 22, has amassed 320 runs this season for Somerset, trailing only Surrey's Jamie Smith with 396. Though he has batted primarily at number four, Rew's recent innings of 86 against Hampshire caught the attention of his coach, Jason Kerr. Kerr believes Rew's current approach suggests he could thrive at the top of England's order. Somerset's head coach emphasized the need to support Rew's England ambitions without compromising his county opportunities. ## Coach praises Rew's potential Jason Kerr stated that Rew is fully capable of opening for England, saying, "Could he do that at the top of the order for England? Absolutely." Kerr stressed that Rew must continue scoring runs consistently but highlighted the quality of his performances across various conditions. "He is a good enough player to play international cricket," Kerr added, praising Rew's technique and adaptability. The coach also noted that Rew's talent deserves recognition, regardless of England's current middle-order depth. ## Rew's path to England recognition Rew has been a standout performer in domestic cricket, becoming the youngest Englishman to score 10 first-class hundreds at 21 years and 114 days. He made his England Lions debut after the 2022 Under-19 World Cup final and was later included in England's Test squad for the Zimbabwe series, though he did not play. This summer, Rew has already struck a century and two half-centuries, building on his 1,054 County Championship runs in 2025 and his role in Somerset's T20 Blast triumph. ## Future prospects for Rew Kerr believes international recognition is inevitable for Rew, given his sustained performances over several years. "Anyone who knows anything about cricket will look at the way he goes about his cricket and the way he scores those runs and who he scores them against, and on all surfaces," Kerr remarked. He added that while England's middle-order is well-established, Rew's talent demands consideration. "If he opens the batting then great," Kerr concluded, "but a player of that talent should be knocking on the door."