Jacob Bethell has spoken openly about his desire for more opportunities in England’s Test side during the home summer, admitting that limited game time against India was frustrating. The left-handed all-rounder featured only in the fifth and final Test at The Oval as a replacement for the injured Ben Stokes. He scored 6 and 5 in both innings of a narrow six-run defeat that meant the series ended in a 2-2 draw. Bethell had previously impressed with half-centuries in each of the three Tests during England’s 2-1 series win over New Zealand. His omission from much of the Test series against India sparked discussion among fans and experts, especially after he hit a brisk 58 off 40 balls in the second ODI against South Africa. While he says he tried to block out external pressure, he admitted he would have liked more playing time. “There’s been a little bit of noise but I don’t listen to it much. If I’m honest, I probably should have played slightly more when I wasn’t in the Test matches, but that’s something I’ll take and learn from,” Bethell told Sky Sports. He added that being around the team, watching high-intensity Test cricket, was valuable even if he didn’t play much. “Playing for England is a dream come true and hopefully I can do it for a long time to come.“ Looking ahead, Bethell is set to feature in England’s T20Is against South Africa next week and will captain the side in Ireland, becoming their youngest-ever skipper. He is also expected to join the team for their white-ball tour of New Zealand and will travel to Australia as a reserve batter for the Ashes. In addition, he is in line for limited-overs series in Sri Lanka and India as England prepare for the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup. “Now I’m looking at what I have ahead and there’s a lot of cricket, so that little gap where I didn’t play actually might be quite nice for me,” he said.
Poll
Do you think Jacob Bethell should have played more in the Test series against India?
Former England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan believes that time on the sidelines will be an important learning experience for the young all-rounder. Morgan praised Bethell’s openness and willingness to grow, saying, “When I see him with bat and ball in hand or hear him speak he is so hungry to learn. You can have all the talent in the world but if you are not willing to learn you probably won’t be around for very long.” Morgan also highlighted the balance between player input and team management decisions, noting that while young players should take ownership of their careers, final decisions lie with the coaching staff and management. “I have no doubt this will be a lesson for Bethell and that moving forward he will not only look at what tours he is going on but take more responsibility for his own career and performance,” he added.
