NewsHail
22 May 2025
Jacob Bethell, 21, did well in his first Test series in New Zealand before Christmas. But he won’t play in England’s one-off Test against Zimbabwe on Thursday. He’s busy playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Bethell could return for the five Tests against India, starting on 20 June. If he does, he may replace opener Zak Crawley or, more likely, number three batter Ollie Pope.
England captain Ben Stokes said: “If you look at how Bethell played in New Zealand, it’s clear he’ll be back for the India series. You can guess what that means.”
Changing the top order would be a big step for England. The India series is huge, and the Ashes in Australia follow soon after.
Still, Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum are not afraid to take bold steps. They have already replaced senior players like James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, and Jack Leach with young talents such as Shoaib Bashir, Jamie Smith, and Gus Atkinson.
Bethell got his chance in New Zealand only because Jordan Cox got injured. Pope kept wicket and batted at number six, while Bethell was moved up to number three. He had never batted that high for his county, Warwickshire.
He made half-centuries in all three Tests. In the third Test, he scored 76 while facing a tough spell from fast bowler Will O’Rourke. Bethell handled it better than Joe Root and Harry Brook.
| Player | Career Avg | Avg in 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Zak Crawley | 30.51 | 27.80 |
| Ben Duckett | 39.82 | 37.06 |
| Ollie Pope | 34.02 | 33.13 |
| Joe Root | 50.87 | 55.57 |
| Harry Brook | 58.48 | 55.00 |
| Ben Stokes | 35.55 | 28.66 |
| Jamie Smith | 42.46 | 42.46 |
| Jacob Bethell | 52.00 | 52.00 |
Stokes told the BBC: “Bethell helped us a lot in New Zealand. He is part of our plans going forward.”
Some think England should have made Bethell play in the Zimbabwe Test. But pulling him out of the IPL could upset the Indian board. Also, playing with Virat Kohli at RCB may help Bethell grow more.
Bethell has never made a century in pro cricket. But England believes he has the skills to do well in Tests. His scores in New Zealand and white-ball games show promise.
Crawley and Pope have both played many Tests but have not been very consistent. Crawley averages 30.51 after 53 matches. Pope averages 34.02 from 55 games.
Crawley had a hard time in New Zealand. He was out cheaply in all six innings. He also struggled in South Africa’s T20 league. But he recently scored three fifties for Kent.
England often keep Crawley for the impact he can make. He hit the first ball of the last Ashes for four and scored a brilliant 189 in the fourth Test. He also partners well with Ben Duckett at the top.
Pope is more at risk. Even though he is still vice-captain, he might lose his spot. He has taken on many roles for England — keeper, opener, number three, number six, and even captain. He moved down the order to let Bethell bat at number three.
Pope had an up-and-down 2024. His 196 in Hyderabad was one of the best ever by an Englishman abroad. But he didn’t do well in other matches. His 2024 average was 33.13, the lowest for anyone with three centuries that year.
McCullum seems to back Crawley more than Pope. He said: “Runs are what matter. Players must perform to keep their place. It’s a good problem to have because we have strong players.”
England also like Bethell’s left-arm spin. Even if spin won’t matter much in Australia, his bowling gives England more options.
