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It was a takedown that demonstrated why there is such excitement in English cricket about an incredibly gifted all-round player. Despite only being 20 years old, Jacob Bethell’s attack on Adam Zampa’s legspin demonstrated why Marcus Trescothick, England’s acting coach, thinks he will become “a superstar”.
In their fourth-wicket stand, Bethell had been Liam Livingstone’s second fiddle as he concentrated on trying to get his senior partner back on the attack. However, Livingstone’s three successive boundaries off Marcus Stoinis presented Bethell with a chance to declare England’s supremacy.
Bethell skidded down to the first two deliveries of the 14th over, blasting the first through midwicket and sending the second over wide long-on, facing Zampa, the outstanding bowler in an underpowered Australian assault. Zampa responded with a quick, flat googly that Bethell saw coming and slapped through cover.
Replays showed that the fourth ball was really a boundary, even though Cameron Green tried to cut it off when it trailed hard through the leg side. An exuberant Cardiff audience on a Friday night welcomed each one with an even louder roar: in just four balls, Bethell had transformed an equation that read 62 off 42 into 42 off 38.
After two overs, Bethell was out for 44, with a partnership value of 90 with Livingstone. They adapted well: Livingstone, who scored strongly over midwicket in his 87-run innings, took advantage of Australia’s seamers, while Bethell pinned Zampa and Cooper Connolly’s spin.
As teammates for the Birmingham Phoenix, Bethell and Livingstone have collaborated closely for the previous two months. At the Utilita Bowl on Wednesday night, Livingstone gave Bethell his first England cap and served as a mentor. “He’s been outstanding,” Bethell remarked.
Bethell will face a fresh obstacle in the ODI series starting next week: he has only played 16 List A games, the last of which was in August 2023. He will also need to get used to the faster pace of 50-over cricket. However, it wouldn’t come as a major surprise to see him succeed; Bethell has made seizing every chance he gets an early theme of a very bright future.