In isolation, Bethell’s innings of 58 from 40 deliveries at Lord’s is unlikely to be remembered in years to come, particularly as it came during yet another defeat for Harry Brook’s team.
Bethell’s counter-attacking knock after being moved up to No 4 in the order did much to help swing momentum back in his team’s favour after a slow start to the chase of 331.
Shorn of time in the middle and runs since his last half-century in any format – his 82 in an ODI against the West Indies at Edgbaston in June – it would have been understandable if Bethell had failed again.
England starved Bethell of red-ball cricket this summer (Photo: Getty)
Bethell may still be waiting for a first century as a professional. Yet the way he took down Keshav Maharaj when plundering 19 runs off the 19th over of the chase was extraordinary.
The Barbados-born player is special. It’s why England’s poor management of him since his breakout winter has been so maddening.
Only given his chance after Ollie Pope was asked to keep wicket after an injury to Jordan Cox on the eve of the series, his quality was evident from the off.
It started with the decision to allow him to stay on at the Indian Premier League rather than return for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge in May. With easy runs on offer, it would have been the perfect opportunity for Bethell to build on his performances in New Zealand.
It meant when he was called on for the final Test at The Oval after captain Ben Stokes had been ruled out through injury, Bethell had just one County Championship match this summer to fall back on.
square CRICKET English cricket is getting ugly – no wonder players are packing it in
Read More
No wonder he failed against India, scoring 11 runs across two innings. Michael Vaughan, England’s 2005 Ashes-winning captain, branded the decision to play Bethell at The Oval on the back of so little cricket as “diabolical”.
Yet even this piece of good news comes with an almighty caveat. Along with his involvement in these white-ball games against South Africa, the Ireland tour means Bethell will miss Warwickshire’s final three games of the Championship season.
When he was pitched in for his surprise Test debut in New Zealand last winter, it had come after a summer when he’d played 11 County Championship games.
Ravi Bopara, the veteran Northants batter who was treated shabbily during his own England career, said of Bethell during his commentary stint at Lord’s on Thursday: “I feel for him that he hasn’t played much cricket this summer and I do feel playing four-day cricket for Warwickshire will help him develop. It is hard as a youngster to know what you need to do to get better.”
The problem for Key is that his winter may well be defined by a summer when he has been handled so badly, it’s a surprise England haven’t already broken him.
Hence then, the article about england are setting jacob bethell up to fail was published today ( ) and is available on inews ( Middle East ) The editorial team at PressBee has edited and verified it, and it may have been modified, fully republished, or quoted. You can read and follow the updates of this news or article from its original source.
Read More Details
Finally We wish PressBee provided you with enough information of ( England are setting Jacob Bethell up to fail )
Also on site :