Melbourne, Dec 29 (NationPress) England's batting all-rounder Jacob Bethell credited his experience in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year for helping him manage the pressure of his Ashes debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where England triumphed by four wickets in a two-day game.

At just 22 years old, Bethell stepped in for Ollie Pope and delivered a steady 40 runs while England successfully chased down 175 to secure victory in the traditional Boxing Day match, bringing an end to England's 18-match winless streak in Tests in Australia. He was part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) team that clinched the IPL 2025 title in Ahmedabad this past June.

"I felt quite anxious. It wasn't so much about the people, but more about the occasion, I suppose. I've played in India, where it feels like 160,000 eyes are on you. The atmosphere here was fantastic, and it felt great to contribute to a win," Bethell stated.

"I participated in only two matches in the IPL, but each game taught me something valuable. Knowing what I can achieve in such intense situations certainly boosted my confidence going into this game, especially after playing in front of, I don't know, 50,000 fans—though it felt like 100,000—at Chinnaswamy Stadium," Bethell remarked, as quoted by ESPNCricinfo on Monday.

He also expressed his desire to be a long-term option for England's number three batting position but acknowledged the need to perform consistently to secure the role. "I enjoy batting at three. You come in when the ball is fresh, and sometimes the bowlers struggle with it," he explained.

"In other scenarios, it presents opportunities to score when bowlers are attempting to take wickets and the field is aggressive, leaving many gaps. It's a double-edged sword, but I'm enjoying it. I would love to solidify any role in the team, to be honest. If you're part of the XI and contributing to victories, that's what truly matters to me," Bethell concluded.