Jacob Bethell’s Test debut in Christchurch has been praised by the former England captain Alastair Cook. Cook believes the young batsman’s temperament could help him overcome his limited experience with the red ball. Bethell, 21, scored 10 and an unbeaten 50 in England’s eight-wicket win New Zealand.
Bethell fell into the spotlight
Bethell unexpectedly received the No. 3 role after Jordan Cox’s hand injury ruled him out of the first Test. With Ollie Pope taking over wicketkeeping duties and bringing down the order, Bethell took it upon themselves to anchor Englandtop order. Despite playing only 20 first-class matches and never scoring a single century at any level, he rose through the ranks.
Cook, who made his debut at the same age in 2006 with a century against Indiacautioned against expecting too much from Bethell too soon. “There’s a long way to go, but it’s been an encouraging start,” Cook said.
Alistair Cook praises Bethell’s Grit
Bethell’s determination was evident in England’s first innings. He battled through difficult, overcast conditions to score 10 off 34 balls, withstanding a swinging New Zealand attack before falling to a sharp delivery just before lunch.
“I was impressed,” Cook noted. “Especially the way he pulled it off in the first innings. His strike rate in red-ball cricket is below 50, so it’s clear that he likes to build runs. That’s a huge strength, even though it’s far from the final article.”
His second innings, however, showed his ability to adapt. Bethell’s unbeaten 50 steered England to victory. This silenced doubts about his readiness for the highest level.
Cook admitted initial skepticism about Bethel’s selection, given his modest first-class record. However, he admitted that the leadership team must have seen qualities that went beyond the statistics. “He handles the pressure well, like he checks all the mental boxes before the numbers hit,” Cook said.
The former captain emphasized that Test cricket is as much a mental as a technical challenge. “Decent technique is critical, but mind power can overcome a lot. Bethell has shown he is made of the right stuff.”
Cook impressed by Pope’s Keeping
Bethell’s appearance also shifts the focus to Ollie Popewho donned the gloves in Cox’s absence. Pope carded a calm 77 from No. 6 and impressed with impeccable guarding, sparking talk of his long-term role.
“I was pleasantly surprised by Pope’s booking,” Cook admitted. “He didn’t make any notable mistakes and looked composed. It might be an option to consider down the line.”
For now, Bethell’s promising start at No.3 could allow Pope to settle into a middle-order role where he looks more comfortable.
Bethell’s debut gave England a potential long-term top-order solution, but Cook urged patience. “We shouldn’t expect too much too soon,” he said. “Bethell has plenty of room to grow and the leadership team clearly trusts him,” Cook concluded.
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