Jacob Bethell says there’s no rivalry with fellow England batter Ollie Pope as the country gears up for the winter Ashes tour of Australia. The 21‑year‑old insists he’s focused on grabbing any chance that comes his way instead of drama.
Pope has been the front‑and‑center No. 3 for much of the summer. He kept his spot after the home series against India, stepping in at No. 6 in the final Test when captain Ben Stokes couldn’t play. Now, with Harry Brook taking over as Test vice‑captain, Pope could eye a higher role in the order.
Speaking to Sky Sports at the Professional Cricketers’ Association awards, Bethell made it clear the two are “great friends.” “I get on really well with Popey, we practice nicely together,” he said. “He’s the batter for that No. 3 spot and he’s done it unbelievably well. The team is special right now, so if I get a chance I’ll take it with both hands.”
Bethell recently scored three half‑centuries in New Zealand and notched his first professional century in September’s ODI series against South Africa. The Ashes are a lifelong dream for him. “I grew up watching The Ashes on TV, and the intensity always pushed me,” he said. “Playing it would be a dream come true.”
He admits this winter wasn’t his most consistent season, but it stoked a fire in him. “I would have imagined a better season, but the performances I’ve had have lit a spark. I’ll keep trying to get into the Test side; the rest will follow,” Bethell said.
Meanwhile, new vice‑captain Harry Brook is excited to work alongside Stokes, who’s still recovering from a shoulder injury that cut his summer short. “I don’t have to do much with Stokesy, but I’ll be there every step of the way,” Brook told reporters. “I feel it’s natural for my leadership style. I just do what I’ve always done.”
Brook will lead England’s white‑ball side in New Zealand from October 18, taking on a series of three T20s and three ODIs. The spotlight will shift to the Ashes, which start in Perth on November 21.
Source: ianslive
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