Who are England’s Test match candidates? Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain discuss the impact of James Rew in the County Championship.
Rew is the most prolific run-scorer in the country but England’s middle-order appears to be locked in with Jacob Bethell, Joe Root, Harry Brook and Ben Stokes cementing their spots, so the 22-year-old’s best hope could be to open the batting for Somerset to challenge under-pressure batsmen Zak Crawley and Ben Duckett.
The left-hander’s run-scoring in the Championship is bettered only by Jamie Smith so if he does get a call-up, England could face a quandary on how to fit him in for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s on June 4.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Sky Sports Cricket podcast, Atherton said: “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.
“Can you open the batting for England? That’s really the question. And whether this balance between what the county wants and needs for its own success and what England maybe want to need and would like for their development is always a tricky balance.”
Hussain, who captained England between 1999 and 2003, said: “Former England and Glamorgan player, turned cricket writer, Steve James, said Rew should be knocking on the door at Somerset and asking them to open the batting, but he’s done so well at four, then they could just turn to him and say, ‘we’ll do what’s best for us’, to be honest.
“That’s the other thing we have to factor in with Somerset is if they start losing players to England. I do think opening is a specialist position.
“Three to open. I’m not that fussed about. Mark Butcher was three open. ‘Gaffer’ [Alec Stewart] used to do it and you used to do it, didn’t you? And then you opened for Lancashire and everything that followed from that.
“But middle order, they tried it with Dan Lawrence. It didn’t really work out, but I just think he’s getting so many runs and you just watch him bat and some of the positions and how late he plays the ball. It’s just getting to that stage where you have to find a way of picking him.
“Bethell’s one that came in about at three and has never done it before. In first class cricket.
“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.”
Would you definitely pick Root?
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Atherton, who became England captain at the age of 25, remained adamant that you have to be batting in the top three for your county to open for the national team.
“I wouldn’t be shoving Root in from the middle order if that’s where he’s staying. They did it with Dan Lawrence. It wasn’t a success, but you felt they were just keeping the seat warm there. I think you’ve got to be batting in the top three,” he said.
“Ideally for him, he would be batting in the top three. And maybe that will that maybe that will come to pass. If you’re a young kid looking at where you’re going to get in the England side and everybody has ambitions and wants to play at the highest level. There’s only one place at the moment, isn’t there? And that’s at the top of the order.”
Who else has caught your eye in county cricket?
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James Anderson took a five-wicket haul in Lancashire’s County Championship season opener against Lancashire
Atherton has been keeping tabs on the County Championship with a few players catching his eye ahead of Surrey vs Essex – live on Sky Sports Cricket this Friday from 11am.
“Sonny Baker looks good, bowling quick and looks lively and getting wickets. Henry Crocombe at Sussex, I think, is an improving young fast bowler,” Atherton said.
“Sam Cook, I watched Sam Cook at Edgbaston. He didn’t actually get wickets that day. Jamie Porter got wickets. Sam Cook got him in the second innings. But I do think he is a good bowler and shouldn’t just be kind of mentally discarded because of that one Test match where he didn’t bowl at his best.
“If they’re looking for a line-bowler and an English-style bowler, I mean, he’s got competition. Ollie Robinson and Matt Fisher, I suppose, is his competition. But I think Sam Cook’s a good bowler. He’s 28 and should be in his prime yet for two or three years and knocking on the door with wickets.
“They’re the bowlers who have impressed. And of course, Jimmy Anderson in Division Two, he’s leading the way with a bag full of wickets and Lancashire going well at the top there.”
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