ENGLAND UNLEASH THEIR Boy from Barbados
Surprise call-up for all-rounder Bethell, 20, to take on the Aussies
ENGLAND will begin their new white-ball era against Australia by putting their faith in a trio of rookies, including ‘superstar’ all-rounder Jacob Bethell.
Bethell, Jordan Cox and Jamie Overton will make their T20 debuts at the Rose Bowl tonight in a side captained by Phil Salt, after Jos Buttler was ruled out of the three-match series due to a calf injury.
Cox, 23, has been in and around England squads over the past couple of years and will make his international bow batting at three, while Overton is carded to come in at seven but will not bowl due to a back injury.
Yet by far the most eye-catching selection comes in the form of 20-year-old Bethell, who was born in Barbados and was a feature
of a talented England Under 19 side that included Rehan Ahmed and finished as runners-up at the 2022 World Cup.
Bethell, a left-handed middle-order batter who bowls finger-spin, is part of an injection of youth across England’s white-ball squads with the selectors regarding him as a direct replacement for the recently retired Moeen Ali.
‘I see a super-talented kid who’s making his way in the game,’ said interim head coach Marcus Trescothick when asked about Bethell.
‘I’ve coached him through the Under 19s and it was really evident to me that he’s going to be a superstar. I think you’re going to enjoy watching him going forward over the next few years.’
And Trescothick insisted the side’s future approach will be ‘Bazball’ in coloured clothing under current Test head coach Brendon McCullum, who will take full control of the white-ball side when they travel to India in January, before heading to Pakistan for the 2025 Champions Trophy.
‘I’ve spoken to Baz (McCullum) quite a bit since the decision was made,’ said Trescothick.
‘We’re trying to bring a lot of what we do with the Test matches — the same messaging, the same language, the same approach and that’s where we’re going to be moving forward.
‘We’re trying to drip-feed that so the guys can get an understanding as to where it’s going to go. I will be very similar and in the same fashion, preparing for when Brendon takes over,’ he added.
Part of the shift will include reducing the personnel involved in the dressing room as has been the case with the Test side, with England only using Richard Dawson, Carl Hopkinson and Michael Yardy as additional coaches for the fixtures against Australia.
The lack of staff was encapsulated perfectly by the uncapped Dan Mousley having to feed balls to himself through the bowling machine in the indoor nets at the Rose Bowl and regularly walking down after every few deliveries to reset the machine, before he was asked by ECB staff to stop to allow the press conferences to take place. It was a conversation that ended with Mousley innocently asking what time he could come back.
Australia also have a youthful feel following David Warner’s international retirement, while Josh Hazlewood is the only one of the Aussies’ three big quicks to play in the T20 leg of this tour. Mitchell Starc won’t play until the ODIs and Pat Cummins has been rested for the tour.
Captain Mitchell Marsh insisted that he doesn’t see it as a transition period. Yet only a year on from a feisty Ashes series on these shores and with just over a year until England head Down Under, Marsh admitted that no love is lost between the two sides.
‘Look, it’s Australia versus England. It’s always a fierce battle,’ said Marsh. ‘Any time you play England, regardless of the format, we’re always excited.’