England’s rising star Jacob Bethell has opened up about his frustrating summer in the Test team, saying he feels he deserved more chances to shine. The young left-handed all-rounder only got a spot in the final Test against India at The Oval, stepping in for the injured Ben Stokes. Sadly, he scored just 6 and 5 in both innings as England lost by a close six runs, ending the series in an exciting 2-2 draw.
Bethell had already shown his talent earlier, smashing half-centuries in all three Tests during England’s 2-1 win over New Zealand. But his limited role in the India series sparked plenty of debate among fans and experts. Things heated up even more when he fired off a quick 58 off 40 balls in the second ODI against South Africa.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Bethell admitted the lack of game time was tough. “There’s been a little bit of noise, but I don’t listen to it much,” he said. “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 learn from. The West Indies ODI series earlier was a whitewash, and that was great.”
Even without much action in the Tests, Bethell stayed close to the team and soaked up the high-energy matches. “Just watching that series was unbelievable,” he added. “I got a chance in the last Test but couldn’t make it count. Still, playing for England is a dream come true, and I hope to do it for years.”
Looking ahead, Bethell has a packed schedule. He’ll play in England’s T20Is against South Africa next week and then captain the side in Ireland, becoming their youngest-ever skipper. He’s also lined up for the white-ball tour of New Zealand and will join as a reserve batter for the Ashes in Australia. Plus, he’s eyeing spots in upcoming limited-overs series in Sri Lanka and India ahead of the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup.
“Now I’m focusing on what’s next—there’s loads of cricket coming up,” Bethell said. “That little break might actually be nice for me.”
Former England white-ball captain Eoin Morgan believes this experience will help the youngster grow. “Bethell has had his say on playing more, but the final call is with Rob Key and Brendon McCullum,” Morgan explained. “For young players, they need to own their game and decisions.”
Morgan praised Bethell’s attitude: “This will be a big lesson. He’ll take more responsibility for his career and performance. He’s open to learning and so hungry to improve. Talent is great, but without that drive, you won’t stick around long.”
