Jacob Bethell may be new to Test cricket but those who have watched him closely know he’s special. Brian Charles Lara, the 400* man, saw Bethell as a young player and made a bold claim.
Lara said, You’re better than I was at 11, according to the BBC. That wasn’t just a nice compliment but a genuine prediction from someone who knows cricket.
Born in Barbados, Bethell now plays for England and was one of four changes to the team at The Oval. At 21 he’s batting and the team’s main spinner which is a lot to ask.
In the first innings he bowled 2 overs and scored 6 runs. Test cricket isn’t about instant results.
At Tea on Day 4 England are 317/4 chasing 374 to win. Joe Root is on 98* and Bethell is 1* off 11 balls.
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This may not be his moment but being in the middle in this big series game tells you something. Sometimes the best learning comes from experience.
Bethell has spent most of this year with the white ball team. After a good showing in New Zealand last year he’s only played one first class game this summer. But he’s an exciting player for England, can spin, bat and stay calm under pressure.
