England batter Jacob Bethell likes batting at number three but admits he has to prove himself in order to make the position his own in the near future. Bethell replaced Ollie Pope at number three for the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
Although he failed in the first innings, getting out for a single-digit score, Bethell roared back in the second innings by top-scoring for his team in the fourth-innings run chase. His quickfire 40 helped England chase 175 to beat Australia by four wickets, ending an 18-match winless run Down Under.
The 22-year-old gave a good account of himself in his first Ashes Test. Bethell explained the reasons behind his preference for the number three position.
“I like three. You come in when the ball is new and, in some scenarios, the ball is going all over the shop, but in other situations it presents opportunities to score when bowlers are trying to take wickets and the field is attacking, there are loads of gaps,” he was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo. “I’ve still got a lot more to do to call it my position.”
For now, Bethell’s focus remains firmly on the present. “I’m not thinking too far ahead yet,” he said. “Hopefully next week in Sydney, and then we’ve got a lot of cricket to play before next summer.” Asked about locking down the number three role, he added: “I’d like to nail down any role in the team. If you’re in the XI and contributing to winning, I’m pretty happy with that.”
England are set to retain Bethell at number three for the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
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