Alastair Cook heaps praise on Jacob Bethell after Test call - 'Totally at home in international cricket'
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Updated 18/11/2024 at 00:02 GMT
Jacob Bethell's whirlwind international career goes from strength to strength with a call-up to England's Test squad against New Zealand after a breakout limited-overs tour of the Caribbean. Bethell is yet to hit a first-class century but has three 50s for England in his first three months and Alastair Cook complimented the 21-year-old for stepping up to international cricket with such ease.
‘Clearly got that aura about him’ – Roy assesses ‘incredible talent’ Bethell
Video credit: TNT Sports
Former England captain Alastair Cook called Jacob Bethell "extraordinary" ahead of a potential Test debut in New Zealand for the prodigious 21-year-old.
Although Bethell only made his England debut in September, he has already become the youngest Three Lions player to score an international T20 half-century, per the BBC, hit a pivotal 44 from 24 balls against Australia in just his second appearance and has also made several key fielding interventions in the Caribbean.
Bethell has played just 20 first-class games and scored less than 1000 runs in the format but the next step in his nascent international career will be joining up with Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum for England's three-Test series in New Zealand, live on TNT Sports and discovery+.
Speaking on TNT Sports, Cook said: "He has looked totally at home in international cricket which is an extraordinary thing for a guy who has barely played any cricket really, he has only really kind of been a first choice in any format for Warwickshire in the last year or so.
"[He is] a guy who has looked at international cricket and just taken it in stride. Bethell is a very interesting selection, someone who has not scored a first-class hundred or a professional hundred yet but he seems to be made of the right stuff, his technique looks quite simple, not too many movements, no big trigger movements and looks like he has got great control.
"I do not think he will start unless there is an injury, he is very much as a spare batter and Brendon and Ben seem to like getting people on board for a bit, give them exposure to the environment, exposure to the nets and see how they handle it."
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‘Clearly got that aura about him’ – Roy assesses ‘incredible talent’ Bethell
Video credit: TNT Sports
Cook is not the first established name to sing Bethell's praises - his former England team-mate Ian Bell described the Warwickshire prodigy as "the best 17-year-old" he has ever seen - and TNT Sports' Jason Roy is similarly impressed by Bethell.
The Barbados-born youngster is expected to provide cover in New Zealand against a Black Caps red-ball side who most recently whitewashed India away from home.
"He is obviously young but he has come in and just shown incredible talent and poise at the crease," Roy said.
"He has played a couple of knocks here that it looks as if he has got 20 or 30 games under his belt. He's struck the ball beautifully, he has used the crease really well, he has played with the field, he is smart and they clearly love what he is about.
"He has clearly got that aura about it and his stature and the way he holds himself and goes about his game that Baz [McCullum] enjoys, so exciting to see someone so young coming onto the Test team for England."
Cook: Cox must bounce back from tough start
Jordan Cox will take the gloves in place of Smith who has averaged 42.5 since making his Test debut in July and is taking paternity leave for the birth of his first child.
"He kind of had a tough ODI series after all that time carrying the drinks in the Test and ODI sides, not really getting a go, went to the Caribbean and has not done great," Cook said. "But he is a very very good player, he is going to keep for the whole three-match series if he stays fit.
"Cox had an extraordinary couple of years for Kent then he has come to Essex, double hundreds and then just has not quite found his feet, has not got that score and has almost looked a little bit unsettled in making his first few games which can happen.
"He is a class act and a guy who I was surprised that that happened to him but he would not be the first person who has a slow start to an international career but suddenly gets a score and everything is ok."
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Watch and stream every ball of the New Zealand v England Test series in the UK on TNT Sports and discovery+
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