With the Ashes series coming up at the end of the season, former England cricketers Michael Atherton and Nasser Hussain discussed the role of highly-rated 21-year-old Jacob Bethell. Reflecting on his performance in the India Test series, they believe his role as the England’s back-up batter needs to be worked upon.
Speaking on Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, Atherton argued on whether Bethell should be given a chance to play white-ball cricket while suggesting him to play 50-over cricket ahead of the Ashes.
“If you look forward, if he’s going to be the spare batter in the Ashes, what do England do now?” Atherton said. “You could make an argument that perhaps playing some 50-over cricket in this period might be better, but obviously you’d want to play The Hundred because you’re getting paid and there’s big crowds and that’s where it is”.
Meanwhile, Hussain insisted that Bethell should play in the County Championship representing the Warwickshire to regain his batting form and add a century before playing in white-ball cricket.
“If I was him, I would probably be looking to play County Championship cricket for Warwickshire at the end of the season, just to get in the rhythm,” Hussain said. “And I know there’s a T20 World Cup coming up and the white ball stuff is hugely important. But he seems to have lost the rhythm of batting. He hasn’t got a professional hundred yet. Go and get a professional hundred. I think Warwickshire play Surrey as well. That will be a real good opportunity against a good bowling attack”.
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