Jacob Bethell is an exciting young talent in the world of cricket, recently making headlines for his impressive Test debut for England against New Zealand.
Born on November 10, 2003, in Barbados, Bethell moved to England at the age of 13 after winning a scholarship to Rugby School.
He quickly rose through the ranks in English cricket, showcasing his skills as an all-rounder with a left-handed batting style and left-arm orthodox spin bowling.
Test Debut Highlights
Bethell made his Test debut on November 28, 2024, at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. In this match, he achieved remarkable success, scoring an unbeaten 50 runs off just 37 balls during England’s second innings.
This performance marked him as the second-fastest player to score a fifty on Test debut, trailing only New Zealand’s Tim Southee, who scored a half-century in 40 balls back in 2008.
Bethell’s innings included eight fours and one six, showcasing his aggressive batting style with a strike rate of 135.13.
In the first innings, Bethell faced challenges and managed to score only 10 runs off 34 balls.
However, his explosive performance in the second innings helped England secure an eight-wicket victory over New Zealand, contributing significantly to their lead in the three-match Test series.
Early Career and IPL Signing
Before his Test debut, Jacob Bethell had already made a name for himself in limited-overs formats.
He made his T20I debut for England against Australia in September 2024 and has since played seven T20Is, scoring 173 runs at an impressive average of 57.66 and a strike rate of 167.96, including two half-centuries with a top score of 62 not out. In ODIs, he has accumulated 167 runs with one half-century.
His recent performances caught the attention of IPL franchises, leading to his acquisition by the Royal Challengers Bengaluru for ₹2.6 crore during the IPL 2025 mega auction. Bethell is expected to fill the shoes of all-rounders Glenn Maxwell and Will Jacks, who were released by the franchise.
With two more Tests scheduled against New Zealand in the series, Jacob Bethell has the opportunity to further cement his place in the England team and showcase his talent on a larger stage.
