Warwickshire CCC unofficial fans forum
bearsfans.org.uk
Super Moderator
Joined:
Posts: 1543

Good to see that he is not only in the England under-19 squad but has also been made joint captain:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/barbados-born-jacob-bethell-to-captain-england-under-19s-against-west-indies-1275685?ex_cid=OTC-RSS

Member
Joined:
Posts: 306

Jacob got 185 off 110 balls (28x4 & 7x6) as Young England Lions B Captain, in their 50 overs match against Young Lions A, a few days ago (I don't think the A and B represent a first and second XI). Even with that, the B team only won by 1 wicket (406 for 9 - with 1 ball left - against 405 for 6) ! He didn't bowl.


"You can take the boy out of Atherstone, but you can never take Atherstone out of the boy !"
"The Bears and the (footballing) Foxes for ever !"

Member
Joined:
Posts: 933

Good BBC article on Jacob here
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/cricket/60239953

Super Moderator
Joined:
Posts: 1543

Yes an interesting article. By tomorrow, he could be a World Cup winner.

Super Moderator
Joined:
Posts: 1543

....or maybe just a runner-up. I was surprised that he only got to bowl 4 overs in the Final.
Anyway, still an amazing prospect. All we need now is for Sir Garfield, in one of his friendly chats, to persuade him that he, too, can be a three-in-one bowler - opening with lively left arm pace, then switching to orthodox finger spin or wrist spin as needed. But maybe Sir Garry was a one-off.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 172

Not to mention lightning reflexes at short leg and a javelin-like throw from the deep. If Jacob ends up as half the player Sobers was, we'll be more than pleased.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 1345

Joins Gloucestershire on loan

Super Moderator
Joined:
Posts: 1543

It's just for one game because Gloucestershire have horrendous injury/illness problems. Brad Wheal and Zak Chappell have also been brought in.

Super Moderator
Joined:
Posts: 1543

Gloucestershire easily rolled over in less than three days - but Jacob was second highest scorer in the first innings (37) and top scorer in the second (61). Not a bad effort and great experience for him against a good quality Somerset attack.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 650

At that rate, they will want him a lot more injury or no injury, well done to him.

Super Moderator
Joined:
Posts: 1543

It's perhaps an unfair comparison - different ground, different pitch - but he scored more runs in the match than any of the Bears players did in their match against Somerset.

Super Moderator
Joined:
Posts: 1543

England Lions took a bit of a beating today; but Jacob top scored and, although he didn't take a wicket, was the most economical bowler:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-lions-in-sri-lanka-2022-23-1355654/sri-lanka-a-vs-england-lions-3rd-unofficial-odi-1355662/full-scorecard

Member
Joined:
Posts: 306

GerryShedd wrote:

England Lions took a bit of a beating today; but Jacob top scored and, although he didn't take a wicket, was the most economical bowler:
https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-lions-in-sri-lanka-2022-23-1355654/sri-lanka-a-vs-england-lions-3rd-unofficial-odi-1355662/full-scorecard

And opened, with another 50 - he's got to be in the mix to start for us there, in red and white ball, this season?


"You can take the boy out of Atherstone, but you can never take Atherstone out of the boy !"
"The Bears and the (footballing) Foxes for ever !"

Member
Joined:
Posts: 258

Nominated for the PCA Young Player of the Year award.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 306

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/2024/10/28/jacob-bethell-england-test-squad-new-zealand-jamie-smith/

Called up for the full England Test squad for New Zealand! A wonderful testament to his potential.


"You can take the boy out of Atherstone, but you can never take Atherstone out of the boy !"
"The Bears and the (footballing) Foxes for ever !"

Member
Joined:
Posts: 948

I rate Jacob very highly; and at only 21 he’ll get better and better.
But this seems a very odd pick, definitely based on potential and T20 form.
Yet to score a first class hundred, averaging 25 after 20 matches in red ball.
I can think of plenty within Warwickshire alone who were better this year in the CC. But that’s not what earns selection anymore.

Administrator
Joined:
Posts: 568

Presumably it means that’s another player that we’ll see very little of next season.

Member
Joined:
Posts: 172

I have to agree with Bristol Bear: great for Jacob but (if this is true) what are the England selectors smoking? Picking someone with potential in order to give them experience is the sort of thing you might do at club level but Test match cricket is supposed to be for people who have already sorted out their game, know what they need to do and know how to do it. As it is we have Smith learning to be a wicketkeeper, Bashir being so far down the pecking order at Somerset that he wasn't even guaranteed a place in their One Day Cup side and now (perhaps) a specialist batsman who is yet to score a century in any form of professional cricket. No wonder we are in the lower half of the Test Championship table.

Super Moderator
Joined:
Posts: 1543

Jacob has a central contract (alongside Chris Woakes)
https://edgbaston.com/news/woakes-and-bethell-on-ecb-central-contracts-list/

Super Moderator
Joined:
Posts: 1543

62 off 32 balls for England today.