Bethell vs Pope for No.3: Rob Key feels Headingley call won't define careers
England's managing director of men's cricket, Rob Key, doesn't feel that the careers of Jacob Bethell and OIlie Pope will be defined by the selection for the Headingley Test against India, starting from June 20. Bethell and Pope are in a direct battle for the No.3 spot for the first Test. Pope recently scored 171 in the one-off Test against Zimbabwe, while Bethell impressed everyone with three fifties during the tour of New Zealand. advertisementKey, however, doesn't see the competition as a problem for the England team management and feels it is a win-win situation for the team. The England managing director feels that it would have been an issue if they didn't have good options to fill in the slot. "I don't see it as a problem, really," Key told the Telegraph's cricket podcast. "You win either way, really. You've got two brilliant players that can do that role. Ollie Pope's been fantastic in that tough spot; he played brilliantly in New Zealand alright, he was in a different role, but we've got two brilliant options in those spots."
"A tough decision is when you've got no options, and you've got to just then try and find something from nowhere. That's when I'm sort of scratching my head. This one is: 'Which really good player are we going to pick?' It's a good position to be in."'Watching Bethell's development has been extraordinary'advertisementKey said he also had no regrets about having Bethell stay in India to play in the IPL, instead of playing the one-off Test against Zimbabwe. Key feels that England will reap the rewards of Bethell's stay in India in the future. "I don't think [that] the careers of Ollie Pope and Jacob Bethell are defined by what happens this week, or whether he came back to play the Zimbabwe Test. He may not have played that Test match," Key said. "Watching his development has been extraordinary, and him going out there and playing in the IPL, I think was brilliant for him. We'll get the return on that in the future."Must Watch
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Pink Villa
32 minutes ago
- Pink Villa
PIC: Athiya Shetty cheers for KL Rahul ahead of India-England Test opener, reaches London with daughter Evaarah
Just days before India's first Test against England at Headingley, Athiya Shetty gave cricket fans a personal glimpse of her "pride". The Bollywood actress and wife of KL Rahul posted an Instagram story featuring her husband's poster displayed at a Paul & Shark store in the UK. Rahul, now the brand's first global ambassador from India, appeared in full cream attire representing the luxury Italian label. With both cricket and fashion colliding, the timing of the post—just before a major Test series—has sparked excitement across fans and followers alike. A casual stroll quickly turns into a 'proud wife' moment Athiya Shetty's story was simple but effective: a snap of KL Rahul's Paul & Shark poster, paired with a wave and 'smiling face with hearts' emoji. Given the timing, the photo was likely taken in Headingley, Leeds, where she's accompanying Rahul for the England tour. The story hasn't gone unnoticed by fans, with the post quickly circulating on social media as a public show of support for the cricketer ahead of a big match. This trip to the UK is also one of Athiya's first public outings since she and Rahul welcomed their first child. Born on March 24, 2025, the couple introduced their baby girl to the world through a serene Instagram post. They referred to her as 'our everything' and shared the meaning of her name— Evaarah, derived from Sanskrit, meaning 'Gift of God.' All eyes on Headingley as Rahul prepares to lead from the front While Athiya captured attention online, KL Rahul has been busy doing the same with the bat. Ahead of the series, the right-hander featured in India A's unofficial Tests against the England Lions, where he scored 116 and 51 across two innings. According to Sportskeeda, the performances helped him ease back into red-ball cricket following a high-scoring IPL season with Delhi Capitals. With 955 Test runs against England, including three centuries, Rahul's form could be vital. As India prepares for a demanding five-match series, his confidence—backed by both runs and support from home—appears to be firmly in place.
India.com
an hour ago
- India.com
Sachin Tendulkar Becomes Brand Ambassador Of ‘THIS' World Famous Social Media Platform To Engage With Fans
Cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar has stepped into a new era, this time not with a bat, but through a keyboard, as he officially joins Reddit as a global brand ambassador. The announcement, made on June 18, 2025, marks a major collaboration between one of the world's most beloved cricketers and one of the internet's most active discussion platforms. Tendulkar, known to fans as the Master Blaster or God of Cricket, now ventures into community-led digital spaces to engage with fans like never before. The Master Blaster Goes Digital Sachin will participate in discussions on Reddit under his verified username u/SachinTendulkar, where he plans to engage in cricket conversations, share insights, and even interact during key tournaments. Communities like r/IndiaCricket, r/SachinTendulkar, and r/Cricket will serve as his primary interaction hubs. 'For me, the joy of cricket has always been about connection, with fans, with the game, and with memories. Reddit gives us a space where fans can relive, discuss, and celebrate the game together,' Sachin shared in a statement. A Strategic Move by Reddit Reddit, often referred to as 'the front page of the internet,' is focusing heavily on expanding its user base across cricket-loving nations, especially India, where cricket is a way of life. By teaming up with Tendulkar, Reddit hopes to spark deeper fan engagement across its platform and bridge the gap between legends of the game and their millions of followers. Cricket-related communities on Reddit have seen tremendous growth in 2025, with Indian-focused subreddits gaining massive traction during recent IPL and international series. From Stadiums to Subreddits Tendulkar's move to Reddit is symbolic of the digital transformation in modern sports. While fans once waited outside stadiums or television screens for a glimpse of their heroes, they can now interact directly with them through AMAs (Ask Me Anything), behind-the-scenes stories, and live discussions. This move is part of Reddit's broader sports engagement strategy, following previous collaborations with football leagues and American sports organizations. A New Kind of Partnership Sachin Tendulkar's presence on Reddit isn't just a promotional tie-up, it's a bold step into fan-first interaction in the digital age. His joining underscores the growing role of online communities in shaping modern sports culture.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Tilak Varma joins Hampshire for County Championship stint
Tilak Varma (X Photo) India's young batting sensation Tilak Varma is set to turn heads in English domestic cricket, having signed with Hampshire for a four-match stint in the ongoing County Championship. The 22-year-old left-hander from Hyderabad will feature for Hampshire between June 22 and August 1, beginning with their away fixture against Essex at Chelmsford from June 22–25. Hampshire confirmed the signing on Wednesday, with Director of Cricket Giles White hailing Varma as 'an exciting talent' with proven credentials on the international stage and in the IPL . Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! 'It's fantastic to have Tilak available for the next four County Championship matches,' White said. 'He's already made a big impact for India and in the IPL, and we look forward to seeing what he can bring to the team this summer.' Poll How would you rate Tilak Varma's potential in red-ball cricket? Very high potential Moderate potential Low potential Unsure Varma, a rising T20 star, has featured in 25 T20Is for India, scoring 749 runs, including two centuries against South Africa in 2024 and an unbeaten 72 against England earlier this year. His international T20I average of 49.93 is currently the second-highest overall and the best among batters from ICC full-member nations. In red-ball cricket, Varma has been equally impressive. He boasts a first-class average of 50.16 from 18 matches, with five centuries and four fifties. He has also played for India A in the Duleep Trophy and against England Lions earlier this year. Nick Knight EXCLUSIVE: On Shubman Gill and absence of Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma in England Following the Essex match, Varma is expected to make his home debut for Hampshire against Worcestershire at the Ageas Bowl from June 29 to July 2. Hampshire are currently placed seventh in Division One. Game On Season 1 kicks off with Sakshi Malik's inspiring story. Watch Episode 1 here
