After scoring a breakthrough century in the final Ashes Test in Sydney in January, Bethell is lined up to bat at number three in a home Test for the first time against New Zealand.<\/p>\n
He will do so on the back of limited red-ball cricket for the Bears \u2013 Bethell has played only once in the County Championship since August 2024.<\/p>\n
Before Bethell broke into the Bengaluru team, former England captain Sir Alastair Cook questioned his presence in India when he said: “He’s not doing anything. Ideally he could come back and open for Warwickshire to help England.”<\/p>\n
Cook’s ex-England team-mate Kevin Pietersen responded by writing on X: “Alastair Cook has absolutely NO IDEA what it’s like to be in the IPL. What it’s like to always be around the best players in the world.<\/p>\n
“So his opinion on Jacob Bethell doesn’t matter at all. Stay in India, Jacob. I know, even though you’re not playing, you’re learning and will be a way better player.”<\/p>\n
England have already made changes to their batting line-up for the first Test against New Zealand, following the 4-1 defeat in Australia.<\/p>\n