Exclusive: Why Jacob Bethell Looks Like England’s Long-Term Answer at No. 3

England batter Jacob Bethell faced 339 deliveries in his two appearances at the Ashes in Melbourne and Sydney to score 205 runs, including a century. Ollie Pope, whom he replaced at No 3, faced 189 in the first three Tests. It is indicative of the future and how the 22-year-old could help England turn the tide in red-ball cricket.  

The left-handed batter is not a normal youngster. He has been trained in two different cricketing nations and has imbibed the best from both.

Born and raised in Barbados, he learnt the sport at Harrison College, also the alma mater of West Indies international Hayley Matthews, and after moving to the United Kingdom at the age of 12, he joined Rugby College in Warwickshire to develop his game.

THE MAKING OF BETHELL

Bethell heard a lot of 'chin music' while playing as a kid in Barbados, which helped him develop the backfoot game. 

Former Barbadian seamer Corey Edwards, his coach at Harrison College, praised the cricketer's humility, sharp cricketing brain, and family for his success. 

"Watching him grow up, it was clear that he would be a special player and one to watch for sure. It’s like being able to manage and be mature enough to know what you are better at than others. When in school, he was just another school boy," he told SportsBoom.co.uk. 

"He understood the game from a young age because of his household. His grandfather, Arthur Bethell, and father, Graham Bethell, played for Barbados. Jacob understood the sport quicker than others. So you have been part of the cricket ethos for a long time, for life actually," added Edwards.

Edwards had an inkling that the left-hander would do something special at the Ashes. He found similarities between Bethell and Sri Lankan legend Kumar Sangakkara. 

"Even before Jacob made the Ashes team, two years ago, I messaged him saying that I was looking forward to him doing great things for England at the Ashes. At that time, he laughed."

"The way he developed in the past 18 months, you can see that he has a lot of time, weight distribution, and range of shots. He will do what is required for the team. If Bazball, then Bazball it is. He can also score a mature hundred like the 154 off 265 balls at the Sydney Cricket Ground. He applied himself. You don’t see those kinds of innings now. It was like a Kumar Sangakkara innings, who always looked in control. He could get a boundary or a single and hold the innings in tough periods," he said.

EARLY SPARKS AS AN ALL-ROUNDER

Bethell is a serious left-arm spinner and has also kept wickets in the past. In international cricket, he already has four Test scalps, eight ODI, and four in T20Is. 

"He was always one of the boys who stood out. A young man who could do anything, bat, ball, and wicket-keep. He did that for his club, Franklin Stevenson Academy. It is a shame that we could not keep Bethell at home here. I was upset with his parents’ decision but glad it worked out for them."

"He played a couple of games for Wanderers as well. In fact, once I coached the Wanderers team against Bethell's academy team and we beat them in the final," recalled Edwards.

THE FUTURE OF BETHELL

Bethell appears strong in all formats, but Edwards is worried about his workload, as cricket is played throughout the year. 

"I fear that it should not burn him out with the travelling and matches. At the end of the day, you have to keep your head on your shoulders. He is a sensible young man, and he will be alright. You might make mistakes along the way, but who hasn’t? I am proud to be part of his journey."

As a young boy, Bethell would not accept that he was out while doing scenarios at nets.

"He would always say it has gone through covers." 

And now, the English cricket fans would want all his shots to go through every fielder.