Amid England’s struggles, Bethell shows he could be the real deal Premium

Amid England’s struggles, Bethell shows he could be the real deal

January 7, 2026 — It is day four of the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. England has lost one of its openers in the very first over of its second innings, and finds itself 179 runs adrift with the threat of another chastening defeat looming large. At the fag end of an arduous tour that has elicited questions about everything from their preparation to philosophy — Australia retained the urn at the earliest possible opportunity in Adelaide, and was 3-1 ahead going into the final Test — the visitors could be excused for harbouring thoughts about the flight to return home. In walks Jacob Bethell and, far from folding without a fight, conjures up a sublime 154 off 265 balls at No. 3. It helps Ben Stokes and Co. post 342, and at least delay the inevitability of a 1-4 series defeat.

March 5, 2026 — The scene is the semifinal of the T20 World Cup at the bustling Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, and co-host India, aiming to become the first team to retain the crown in this format, has mounted a colossal total of 253 for seven in 20 overs. When it is Bethell’s turn at No. 4, England is wobbling once again at 38 for two with in-form skipper Harry Brook back in the shed — the requirement is a further 216 from 95 balls at an asking rate of 13.93 runs per over. Against an attack spearheaded by Jasprit Bumrah, vociferously backed by a sea of blue in the stands, Bethell clearly has his task cut out. But far from being overawed, he comes up with a chanceless 105 off 48 balls. England stays in the hunt till the final over, and in the end goes down by just seven runs.

In a nutshell, these two innings, in a span of two months across formats and conditions that are at opposite ends of the spectrum, vindicate the wave of excitement that has surrounded the 22-year-old over the past 18 months.

Bethell was clearly a diamond in the rough when he was blooded into the national set-up at 20 for a white-ball series against Australia in September 2024. But it was still a punt by the decision-makers in English cricket that could have not quite gone to plan, simply for the fact that he had never notched up a three-figure score in any format at the senior level. Cut to the present, he has well and truly got that monkey off his back, holding as he does now the unique distinction of scoring his maiden First Class, List A and T20 hundreds at the international stage. His first hundred in 50-over cricket came in an ODI against South Africa at Southampton in September last year.

To spread his wings and showcase himself to the world as an all-format force at a nascent stage of his career is a testament to his precocious skill. Let’s examine his pyrotechnics against India in Mumbai last week more closely.

With the required run rate having neared 14 upon his arrival, Bethell had to tee off immediately against a gun bowling unit. The southpaw reacted ever so promptly, whipping his second ball off Bumrah for a six over fine-leg. What followed was a stunning onslaught against Varun Chakaravarthy in the sixth over.