Should Jacob Bethell Have Played More Cricket for England This Summer?

Southampton, Sep 7 (NationPress) The left-handed batting all-rounder Jacob Bethell expressed his belief that he deserved more opportunities with the England team during the current home summer, following limited appearances in the Test lineup.

Bethell was only included in the final Test against India at The Oval, stepping in as a replacement for the injured Ben Stokes. Unfortunately, he managed scores of just 6 and 5 in both innings, contributing to a narrow six-run loss for England and resulting in the series concluding with a 2-2 tie.

Earlier in the series, Bethell had showcased his talent with half-centuries in each of the three Tests during England's 2-1 series victory over New Zealand. His absence from the Test squad for a significant portion of the series against India sparked considerable discussion.

This discussion heightened after he scored a remarkable 58 runs off just 40 balls in the second ODI against South Africa. While he attempted to ignore the external noise, Bethell admitted that the lack of playing time during the Test series against India was quite frustrating.

"There's been a little bit of noise but I don't listen to it much. To be honest, I probably should have played a bit more when I wasn't involved in the Test matches, but that's something I will take as a learning experience. The ODI series against the West Indies earlier this summer was a clean sweep and that was fantastic," he remarked.

"Even though my participation in the Test series was limited, I spent a lot of time with the group, and witnessing such an exhilarating Test series was incredible. I got my chance in the last Test, but unfortunately, I couldn't perform as hoped. Nevertheless, I have thoroughly enjoyed this summer. Playing for England is a dream come true, and I aspire to continue doing so for many years to come," Bethell told Sky Sports.

Bethell is scheduled to play in England's T20Is against South Africa next week before stepping up as captain for the Ireland series, where he will become the youngest skipper in the nation's history. He is also anticipated to join the England squad for their white-ball tour of New Zealand and will travel to Australia as a reserve batter for the Ashes.

Additionally, he is poised to participate in limited-overs series in Sri Lanka and India leading up to the 2026 Men's T20 World Cup. "Now, I’m focusing on the cricket ahead, and there’s plenty of it, so that brief gap where I didn’t play might turn out to be beneficial for me," he added.

Former England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan believes that being sidelined from the Test team will offer valuable lessons to young Bethell. "He has had some say in the amount of cricket he has played, but the ultimate decision rests with (England managing director) Rob Key and (head coach) Brendon McCullum. When players are young, their own decisions must be factored in—they need to take ownership of their game," he explained.

"I have no doubt this experience will be a lesson for Bethell. Moving forward, he will not only consider which tours he is part of but also take more responsibility for his career and performance. One of his greatest strengths is his openness to growth and learning," Morgan added.

"He is evidently listening intently. Whenever I see him with bat or ball or hear him speak, he displays an eagerness to learn. Having talent is important, but without the willingness to learn, one might not remain in the game for long," he concluded.