Image source, Getty ImagesImage caption, James Rew averages almost 44 from his 60 first-class matches

Cricket CorrespondentPublished12 minutes ago3 CommentsThree weeks into the county season and Somerset's James Rew is making a strong case to be part of England's post-Ashes rebuild.

The left-hander's 379 runs is bettered only by Jamie Smith, albeit that Rew has played a game more than most.

In his five innings, Rew has passed 50 four times. A century in the opening match of the season against Nottinghamshire took him to 12 first-class hundreds at the age of 22. That is as many as England's Zak Crawley has in his entire career.

The Crawley comparison is apt, because it is the opener's place in the England batting line-up that appears to be most vulnerable.

But Rew is not an opener, leaving England with a dilemma on how to fit him in for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord's on 4 June, if they choose to at all.

This would be the most straightforward approach. The vacancy is likely to be at the top of the order, so the replacement goes in as the no-frills option.

Here's the snag. In his 60 first-class matches, Rew is yet to open the batting. The highest he has batted is number three - the century against Notts two weeks ago came at first drop. He has had four goes at opening the batting in List A cricket, returning a century and another score of 96.

The Australians often talk about picking the best players first, then worrying about the order later. England could copy that approach and have thought about Rew as an option to open by asking Somerset for him to do the job in the Championship.

Despite the Cidermen struggling to find a settled opening pair, Rew has not been tried, partly because of his workload as a wicketkeeper.

Nevertheless, Somerset coach Jason Kerr has said Rew "absolutely" could open for England and those close to Rew speak of a player with the qualities to thrive at the top of the order in international cricket.

Rew is said to be a tough character, with an old-fashioned approach to batting - happy to occupy the crease if the situation demands. A hint of modern flair comes through his happiness to play the reverse sweep.

England had their fingers burned trying a non-specialist opener when the Dan Lawrence experiment failed 18 months ago, and asking Rew to make his Test debut at the top of the order against New Zealand's Matt Henry and co is a big ask.

He could get a dress rehearsal opening the batting for England Lions in two fixtures against South Africa A in May.

Further down the line, Rew may move up the order for Somerset if little brother Thomas takes the gloves after finishing his A-levels this summer. By that time, James could already be an England player.

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If Rew were to come in and Smith remains at number seven, it raises the prospect of a county wicketkeeper in Rew not keeping for England while Smith, who does not keep for Surrey, takes the gloves in Test cricket.

A solution to this would be for Smith to do the job he currently does at The Oval - bat at three and not keep. He has benefitted from the switch at Surrey, where he is thought to have rediscovered a natural tempo to his batting.