Jacob Bethell: Young and aggressive left-handed batter from England

[Cover Drive Six]

I watched his batting, and he is impressive. 21 years old Jacob Bethell, on debut, struck eight fours and a six in a 37-ball fifty to headline England's second-inning chase of 104 in their series-opening win in Christchurch; second Test vs New Zealand in Wellington from December 6.

England’s 21-year-old batter Jacob Bethell played at number three for the first time in his first-class career on Test debut against New Zealand in Christchurch this week.

All you need to know about Jacob Bethell
Jacob Bethell is a promising young cricketer, who was born in the Caribbean island of Barbados. He has lately received recognition for his international cricket performances, having made his T20I debut for England against Australia on September 11, 2024. Bethell is an all-rounder renowned for his aggressive hitting style and left-arm orthodox spin bowling. In T20 cricket, he has a strike rate of 137.57. Meanwhile, Jacob Bethell was also picked for Rs. 2.60 crore by Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the IPL 2025 Mega Auction last week.

 

[FearlessRoar]

England and Warwickshire batter Jacob Bethell has been awarded an England Men’s Central Contract upgrade. The 21-year-old, who made his Test debut last week during England’s first Test victory over New Zealand in Christchurch, has signed a two-year contract running until September 2026.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Sir Alastair Cook tips Jacob Bethell to keep England spot: ‘It is down to him’​

Jacob Bethell has already shown the composure needed to cement a long-term spot in England’s Test top order, according to former captain Sir Alastair Cook.

After wicketkeeper Jordan Cox broke his thumb ahead of the series opener against New Zealand in Christchurch, 21-year-old Bethell was drafted in for an unplanned Test debut with Ollie Pope deputising behind the stumps.

Having made 10 in the first innings, Bethell crafted an unbeaten 50 from just 37 balls to help Ben Stokes’ side close out an impressive eight-wicket victory at Hagley Oval.

England have opted to name an unchanged XI in Wellington, with Pope set to retain the gloves for the second Test on Thursday.

Bethell had never batted at three in a brief first-class career comprising just 20 matches, with a modest average of 25.44 and has never scored a professional century.

Nevertheless, in a move to tie up his long-term future, Bethell has also seen his low-key developmental deal upgraded to a two-year central contract by the England and Wales Cricket Board.

Cook scored 12,472 runs, with 33 centuries, from 161 Tests, captaining the team in 59 matches. His long-standing leading run record was surpassed by Joe Root during the series in Pakistan in October.

Former Essex batter Cook, who retired from playing at the end of the 2023 domestic season, feels Bethell has already shown he does have the temperament needed to make the number-three spot his own.

“I was impressed. It was an encouraging start,” TNT Sports’ cricket expert Cook said.

“I particularly liked how he gutsed it out in the first innings and in the second innings, we kind of (saw) that was why he was picked for the white ball (team), with his array of shots.

“I liked his composure under some seriously good bowling. There is a huge amount of growth there, without a doubt.

“He is nowhere near the finished article. We keep going back to the fact he hasn’t scored hundreds in professional cricket, which I think is only a matter of time.

“But it is important that we kind of understand where we are with him. He has been thrown into this situation because of the bit of bad luck for Jordan Cox.

“England probably wanted to see him in red ball training before they played, but he has been given a chance and it is all about taking the chance when you get thrown in there.

“If you take that first (T20) game he played (in September) against Australia out, he has looked at home in international cricket straight away.

“He plays the situation in front of him and is not overawed by what is going on, so then immediately you are looking at a guy and going ‘well, he has got a real good chance of making this for a long time’.”

I liked his composure under some seriously good bowling. There is a huge amount of growth there, without a doubt

Sir Alastair Cook on Jacob Bethell
Cook feels Barbados-born left-hander Bethell can lay down another marker with a strong performance in the second Test against the Black Caps.

“Ben Stokes has said that when Jamie Smith comes back, he will take the gloves and so Ollie Pope will go back up to three – but if Jacob scores 100 in the next couple of games, it changes that,” Cook said.

“If you have got possession of the shirt, it is all in your hands really.

“It is down to him, and if he delivers for him, personally that is brilliant obviously, but more importantly, if he delivers for England, then it is very hard to leave out a guy who scores runs.”

Sir Alastair Cook tips Jacob Bethell to keep England Test spot

The 21-year-old was drafted in for an unplanned Test debut in Christchurch and has retained his place at number three

www.independent.co.uk

 

[FearlessRoar]

Jacob Bethell form gives Brendon McCullum selection ‘headache’​

Brendon McCullum admits Jacob Bethell has given England a selection dilemma, leaving vice-captain Ollie Pope battling to keep his spot.

Bethell made a compelling first impression during his first Test series in New Zealand, hitting three stylish half-centuries in as many games, and the 21-year-old looks every inch a rising star.

And while that is a huge positive for an England setup which has made a point of promoting young talent, it could force a tricky decision next summer.

Bethell was only given his chance at number three after an injury to Jordan Cox left England short of a wicketkeeper, with Pope agreeing to step in and slide down the order.

But with Jamie Smith set to reclaim the gloves following the birth of his first child, Bethell and Pope could be vying for one place next year.

Captain Ben Stokes has previously stated that Pope would go straight back in at three, a role where he has enjoyed sporadic highs and several lean spells, but Bethell’s knocks of 50 not out, 96 and 76 appear to have made things less certain.

“He’s definitely given us a good headache but we’ve got a couple of months to work out what we’re doing. It’s good problem to have,” said McCullum.

“We were all a little unsure whether Beth could play at three when we asked him to do it but we saw the talent in him and he has performed very well against a very good bowling line-up. He has a nice bit of class about him.

“He’s very meticulous with his preparation and planning which then lets his flair and creativity show on the big stage. We couldn’t be more happy with what he has achieved in this series and I think he has shown that international cricket is for him.

He's definitely given us a good headache - Brendon McCullum on Jacob Bethell

“Popey has done really well for us too and to have Beth there as well, you are adding some depth to your batting stocks. They are good decisions and we will not make them in the next few days, when we get together again in a few months’ time we will work all that stuff out.”

England would not want to cut Pope loose after a year that saw him lead the team four times in Stokes’ absence, but a modest average of 33.13 in 2024 does leave him vulnerable.

Opener Zak Crawley has been even lighter on runs, averaging 27.80 in the past 12 months and a torturous 8.66 against New Zealand to end the year on a sour note.

He was dismissed six times out of six by the relentless Matt Henry and showed signs that the pressure was getting to him in Hamilton, reacting with visible annoyance after being given lbw by umpire Adrian Holdstock.

But faith in Crawley appears resolute and there is no suggestion that Bethell’s emergence will put him in jeopardy.

“Zak is disappointed with how many runs he scored on this trip but he’s got our full confidence. He knows at his best he wins us games,” said McCullum.

“He does believe in himself, absolutely. He just hasn’t quite got himself in rhythm. He’s still a huge member of this side and he’ll have some time to freshen up now.

“The last two guys to nail the position are now Sirs (Andrew Strauss and Alastair Cook), so it’s not an easy position to do at the top of the order in England.”

After two-and-a-half-years in charge of the Test team, McCullum begins work as England’s all-format coach in January. He has been tasked with re-energising a white-ball team that underperformed under Matthew Mott and it is a challenge he is ready to embrace.

“I’m excited by it. There’s not too many times in life you take things on with some meat on the bone and that’s why I took on the Test job initially,” he said.

“The talent that sits in England is immense. There is something there to work with. Get it right and we could achieve some pretty cool stuff over the next couple of years.”

Jacob Bethell form gives Brendon McCullum selection ‘headache’

Bethell made three half-centuries in New Zealand to put pressure on vice-captain Ollie Pope’s England place.

www.independent.co.uk

 

[hassan918]

His stats in his short T20I career are very impressive. He seems to have good enough skills to be a success for England in all formats for a long time

 

[FearlessRoar]

Did you enjoy his innings of 51 runs off 64 balls under pressure against India in the 1st ODI?

 

[FearlessRoar]

Ex-England wicketkeeper Matt Prior on local sports media outlet:

"Bethell strikes me as a very similar character to Joe Root. When Root came in, you could see the ability and shots, you take that as a given, it was the mentality."

"It looked like Bethell had played a long time in India, like he had a game plan and he stuck to it."

 

[Bewal Express]

Very lucky to be playing at this level( at this point in his career) due to underwhelming performances at the FC level. But he has been on the England radar since 14, so with all the capital behind, you can't go too far wrong.

 

[RedwoodOriginal]

Expect to see alot of him going forward. He is basically playing the Moeen Ali role for them.

 

[PakHammer]

His batting style especially the pull shot reminds me of Andrew Strauss.

 

[jnaveen1980]

Too early hype him or write him off. But he is not a total failure.

 

[Devadwal]

He is a handy player. England should persist with him

 

[BouncerGuy]

Still young and might come good in the upcoming years. Good player to have in your squad.

 

[pratiktc]

Do not rate his bowling at all but he is clearly a great batting talent

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Injured Bethell to miss Champions Trophy

England batter Jacob Bethell will miss the Champions Trophy after sustaining a hamstring injury in the first one-day international against India on Thursday.

Bethell, 21, was ruled out of England's XI for Sunday's defeat in the second ODI in Cuttack and, although not officially confirmed by England, is set to miss the tournament which begins on 19 February in Pakistan and the United Arab Emirates.

"It is really disappointing for him," said captain Jos Buttler.

"He has been really exciting player. It is a shame injury is going to rule him out."

Somerset batter Tom Banton, 26, has been called up as cover for the third ODI against India on Wednesday initially.

England's first match at the Champions Trophy is on 22 February against Australia. Teams must submit their final squads before 12 February.

England in India: Injured Jacob Bethell out of Champions Trophy and Tom Banton called up

England batter Jacob Bethell will miss the Champions Trophy after sustaining a hamstring injury in the first one-day international against India on Thursday.

www.bbc.com

 

[Mamoon]

A really good addition to the England team, has been a breath of fresh air alongside Jamie Smith. Much better cricketer than Moeen.

 

[The Bald Eagle]

Jacob Bethell is set to become the youngest man to captain England in international cricket when the 21-year-old leads an understrength T20 side on a tour of Ireland in September

With regular white-ball captain Harry Brook and England's other all-format players rested, the leadership for three T20s in Dublin has been handed to all-rounder Bethell, who has had limited playing time this summer.

Monty Bowden was 23 years and 144 days old when he led England in a Test against South Africa in 1889, and to date he remains the youngest man to have captained England in an international.

Prior to the Ireland tour, a full-strength England will play three one-day internationals and three T20s against South Africa, and Hampshire bowler Sonny Baker has been given a first call-up.

Baker has impressed with his lively pace bowling in The Hundred, taking two wickets in four matches for Manchester Originals so far.

Fast bowler Mark Wood has been left out of all of the squads, having not played since February after knee surgery.

He had been targeting a return in the fifth Test against India earlier this month before a setback and his continued absence is a concern given his importance to England's hopes in the Ashes this winter.

England say they are prioritising Wood's winter schedule, though his recovery is taking longer than expected. Bowler Gus Atkinson has also been left out.

Brydon Carse, who skipped The Hundred to manage his workload, is included among the attack options for the South Africa matches, along with Jofra Archer, Baker, Jamie Overton and Saqib Mahmood.

Leg-spinner Rehan Ahmed, who has also impressed domestically this summer, has been recalled to the squads which will be led by batter Brook.

Phil Salt returns to the T20 squads to face South Africa and Ireland after paternity leave.

Despite both holding central contracts, there is still no place for all-rounders Sam Curran or Liam Livingstone – even in the squad for the Ireland series when the likes of Brook, Archer, Carse, Joe Root, Ben Duckett and Jamie Smith are resting.

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England ODI squad for South Africa: Harry Brook (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler (wk), Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wk).

England T20 squad for South Africa: Harry Brook (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler (wk), Brydon Carse, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith (wk), Luke Wood.

England T20 squad for Ireland: Jacob Bethell (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jos Buttler (wk), Liam Dawson, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt (wk), Luke Wood.

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The decision to name Bethell captain for the Ireland series is a remarkable show of faith.

England are huge admirers of his talents - he scored fifties in each of his first three Tests last year - but he is yet to make a century in professional cricket.

His only previous experience as captain has been with England Under-19s and Warwickshire's second XI.

"Jacob has impressed with his leadership qualities ever since he has been with the England squads and the series against Ireland will provide him with the opportunity to further develop those skills on the international stage," selector Luke Wright said.

Bethell's summer has also been stop-start. He missed the one-off Test against Zimbabwe while at the Indian Premier League, with Ollie Pope retaking the number three position in his absence.

He then played three ODIs and three T20s against West Indies from late May but was an unused member of England's squad for the first four Tests against India.

When he was called in for the fifth Test after an injury to Ben Stokes, he had only played one red-ball match this year and returned scores of six and five.

In three Hundred matches since he has a high score of eight.

By picking him for all squads against South Africa and Ireland, England have opted to give him those matches to regain his form.

Another option would have been for Bethell to play in Warwickshire's three County Championship matches in September as preparation for the Ashes, for which he is still expected to travel.

By the time the Ashes begins, he will have only played 25 first-class matches.

Source: BBC