Jacob Bethell announced himself as one of England’s most exciting prospects by making a half-century in each of his first three Tests in the series in New Zealand in late 2024.
The Warwickshire left-hander made his maiden Test half-century in the second innings of the first Test in Christchurch when his unbeaten 50 from 37 balls helped to secure an eight wickets win.
In the second Test in Wellington Bethell fell just four short of a maiden century but his 118-ball 96 helped England to an imposing 427 for six declared in their second innings of a match they went on to win by 323 runs.
New Zealand gained revenge in the final Test in Hamilton but Bethell further enhanced his reputation by top-scoring with 76 in England’s second innings.
Before his Test debut Bethell had already given evidence of his rich talent with some eye-catching innings for England in white ball cricket.
He followed up a 24-ball 44 against Australia in Cardiff in September 2024 with two half-centuries against the West Indies in November including 62 not out from 32 balls – with 54 of the runs coming in boundaries – at Gros Islet.
Bethell also made half-centuries in One Day Internationals against the West Indies at North Sound and India at Nagpur in early 2025 but he was forced to miss the Champions Trophy because of a hamstring injury.
Bethell was born and raised in Barbados – his grandfather Arthur played for Barbados from 1963 to 1970 – but qualified to play for England having moved to England at the age of 12 to study at Rugby School.
He was coached there by former Warwickshire captain Michael Powell who, impressed by Bethell’s strokeplay, canny left-arm spin and brilliant fielding, soon recommended him to his old county.
Bethell was taken on to the Academy at Edgbaston and was still at school when he made his senior debut in the 2021 Royal London Cup shortly after he had finished school.
A half century against Yorkshire at York in August 2021 was followed by a low-key first-class debut against the same opponents a month later at Headingley where he batted at nine and both innings and was not required to bowl.
By that stage Bethell had made his debut for England Under-19s as a 17-year-old against the touring West Indies, the first of 18 appearances for the side.
A brief loan spell with Gloucestershire at the start of the 2022 season gave Bethell the opportunity to make a maiden first-class half-century in a defeat by Somerset at Bristol before he returned to Edgbaston and a regular place in the side.
England Lions recognition followed with a tour to Sri Lanka in the winter of 2022/23 but a back injury restricted Bethell’s opportunities during the following English summer.
But he returned to fitness and form by making 93 against Nottinghamshire at Edgbaston in April 2024 and followed up with four more County Championship half-centuries and four more in the Vitality Blast.
Bethell’s brilliant all-round skills earned him a contract with Welsh Fire in The Hundred in 2022 before he was snapped up by Birmingham Phoenix for the 2023 and 2024 editions. He also had a first taste of Big Bash cricket with Melbourne Renegades early in 2025 which included a T20 best of 87 against Hobart Hurricanes.
Bethell was awarded an England central contract upgrade in December 2024, taking him to September 2026.
He won the prestigious Wisden Schools Cricketer of the Year Award in 2022, prize previously won by Johnny Bairstow, James Taylor and Jos Buttler.
Tests: 3
Highest score: 96 England v New Zealand at Wellington 2024/25
Best bowling: 3-72 England v New Zealand at Hamilton 2024/25
ODIs: 9
Highest score: 55 England v West Indies at North Sound 2024/25
Best bowling: 2-33 England v Australia at Headingley 2024
T20Is: 10
Highest score: 62 not out England v West Indies at Gros Islet 2024/25
Best bowling: 0-28 v Australia at Southampton 2024
First-class:
Highest Score: 96 England v New Zealand at Wellington 2024/25
Best bowling: 4-20 Warwickshire v Lancashire at Old Trafford 2024
List A
Highest score: 66 Warwickshire v Yorkshire at York 2021
Best bowling: 4-36 Warwickshire v Glamorgan at Cardiff 2021
T20
Highest score: 87 Melbourne Renegades v Hobart Hurricanes at Hobart 2024/25
Best bowling: 2-5 Warwickshire v Leicestershire at Edgbaston 2024
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