Jacob Bethell put on a show at Lord's, eh? Despite England losing to South Africa, his knock of 58 off 40 balls was a real highlight. After facing some serious pressure this summer, it was great to see the 21-year-old smiling and smashing boundaries.
BBC's cricket commentator noted that Bethell has been copping a lot of flak lately, which hardly seems fair. He struggled in previous matches, including a Test at The Oval and the first ODI against South Africa. Even The Hundred wasn't a walk in the park for him, with opposition players giving him stick about being England's 'Golden Boy'.
But at Lord's, Bethell showed glimpses of brilliance. Sky Sports' Nick Knight reckons he has a “rare gift of taking games away from opponents.” Blistering three sixes and five fours, it was a 28-ball half-century that reminded everyone of his potential.
Time and Space to Grow, Ja?
The main thing is, people need to give Bethell a break. Even legends like Sachin Tendulkar had to put in the hard yards to learn their game. You can't expect anyone to just walk into international cricket and dominate. It takes time, experience, and a whole lot of cricket.
While no one is suggesting dropping Bethell from the England squad, it's crucial to let him play and develop his game. As the commentator wisely said, “all a lad of his age wants to do is go and play.”
A Questionable Captaincy Call?
The decision to appoint Bethell as captain for the T20 tour of Ireland raised eyebrows. England's managing director, Rob Key, spoke about Bethell's leadership qualities, but it's hard to see where those qualities have been demonstrated when he's been carrying drinks as 12th man for the Test team.
Ultimately, taking the pressure off Bethell is the best way forward. Give him the space to understand his game, and he can produce more innings like the one at Lord's. Let's hope he gets the chance to shine, hey?