Bethell to become England's youngest cricket captain against Ireland
Bethell, however, has still been appointed to lead England in a three-match T20 series against Ireland in Dublin from September 17-21, which will serve as part of the team's preparations for next year's T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
He is now in line to become England's youngest men's captain in an international match, breaking the record of Monty Bowden, who was 23 years and 144 days old when he led England in a Test against South Africa at Cape Town in 1888/89.
Bethell has featured in just four Test matches but has become a white-ball regular with 13 Twenty20 appearances and 12 one-day internationals to his credit since making his T20 bow in September last year.
'Leadership qualities'
"Jacob Bethell has impressed with his leadership qualities ever since he has been with the England squads and the series against Ireland will provide him with the opportunity to further develop those skills on the international stage," said England selector Luke Wright.
Bethell's most recent international appearance was in the fifth and deciding Test against India at the Oval this month where, having replaced injured red-ball captain Ben Stokes, he managed scores of just six and five, while not taking a wicket with his left-arm spin.
But former England captain Michael Vaughan said team management had made a "diabolical" decision to call-up Bethell for such a key match on the back of so little first-class cricket this season.
Bethell has been given the chance to lead England after team chiefs decided regular white-ball captain Harry Brook should take a break following the ODI and T20 series against South Africa.
The all-format quartet of Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse have also been rested from the Ireland series as they take a breather ahead of the upcoming shopwiece Ashes campaign.
Fast bowlers Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson are not in any of the three squads as they prepare for the tour of Australia, with the first Test in Perth starting on November 21, but uncapped fast bowler Sonny Baker has been included.
Wood had knee surgery in March and missed the whole of the Test series against India.
England squads for one-day international and T20 series against South Africa and Ireland:
ODI squad v South Africa:
Harry Brook (capt), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler (wkt), Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (wkt)
T20 squad v South Africa:
Brook (capt), Ahmed, Archer, Banton, Bethell, Carse, Liam Dawson,Duckett, Jacks, Mahmood, Overton, Rashid, Phil Salt (wkt), Smith (wkt), Luke Wood
T20 squad v Ireland:
Bethell (capt), Ahmed, Baker, Banton, Buttler, Dawson, Tom Hartley, Jacks, Mahmood, Overton, Matthew Potts, Rashid, Salt (wkt), Wood
Fixtures
England v South Africa ODIs (1200 GMT unless stated)
Sep 02: 1st ODI, Headingley, Leeds
Sep 04: 2nd ODI, Lord's, London
Sep 07: 3rd ODI, Rose Bowl, Southampton (1000 GMT)
England v South Africa T20s (1730 GMT unless stated)
Sep 10: 1st T20, Sophia Gardens, Cardiff
Sep 12: 2nd T20, Old Trafford, Manchester
Sep 14: 3rd T20, Trent Bridge, Nottingham (1330 GMT)
Ireland v England T20s (all at Malahide, Dublin, 1230 GMT)
Sep 17: 1st T20
Sep 19: 2nd T20
Sep 21: 3rd T20
© 2025 AFP
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
Kildunne confident Women's Rugby World Cup 'heartbreak' can inspire England to glory
Host nation England head into the event as favourites, having lost only once in their past 58 matches - a defeat by New Zealand in the Covid-delayed 2022 World Cup final in which Kildunne played. England, top of the world rankings, have won six successive Six Nations Grand Slams and also defeated New Zealand's Black Ferns in each of the teams' past three meetings. Yet they have lost five of the last six World Cup finals to New Zealand, with 2014 -- when England beat Canada in the showpiece match -- their most recent global 15-a-side title. But for 25-year-old full-back Kildunne, this year's edition is an opportunity to put things right, with England launching the tournament against the United States in Sunderland on Friday, August 22. "We've been building to this moment for the past three years since the last World Cup and we're more than ready," she told AFP in an interview in London. Kildunne, now fully recovered from a leg injury, added: "When the last World Cup happened obviously it was heartbreak, it was heavy and that's only because we wanted it, that's because we cared about it so much. "And when you're out in New Zealand you have no idea what else is going on outside of the world. "I felt a bit of guilt that I thought we were going to change women's sports, women's rugby if we won and it felt heavy when we didn't. "But when we came back to England, I realised it was already changed, we'd already made an impact." 'Obsessed' Professional women's sport is on the rise in England and in June, the Lionesses -- the women's national football team -- retained their European Championship title by beating world champions Spain in a penalty shoot-out in the final in Basel. "We've learned so much from that and how much hard work and how sometimes it doesn't look pretty," said Kildunne, a brand ambassador for leading rugby kit supplier Canterbury. "But if you believe, if you've got that grit about you, if you really want something, you can make anything achievable. And that's something that I definitely learned from (them)." Kildunne, the reigning women's World Rugby player of the year, has scored an exceptional 41 tries in 53 Tests for England and is one of the most high-profile figures in her sport, as reflected by a large following on Instagram. But the charismatic Kildunne was clear on how she maintained a balance between her life on and off the field. "When I'm in rugby mode, I'm in rugby mode," she said. "When I'm away from rugby, I'm away from rugby, and I still have the rugby thoughts are going on in my head. "Sometimes it might be nine o'clock at night and suddenly I think of a new move and I'm like I need to message the coach because I've just thought of this move because I'm obsessed. "Rugby is the priority, always will be the priority and I wouldn't have the social media following that I have got if it wasn't for the rugby." The Red Roses, as the England women's rugby team are known, appointed New Zealand's John Mitchell as their coach in 2023 in a bid to help them take the elusive last step to World Cup glory. Mitchell, a former head coach of the men's All Blacks, has a reputation for being a stern disciplinarian but Kildunne said she had seen another side of the 61-year-old's character. "I love is not afraid to be unapologetically himself and what that does is it creates an environment that's safe to be yourself, authentically yourself," she explained. "He'll tell you straight if you're getting something wrong and he wants the best for you." Kildunne added: "You trust what he's saying, you trust when he's been lighthearted and when he's been serious for a reason. "I love what he's done for the team. Coming in with such an open heart and vulnerability, that he's shown, allows us as players to give that back to him."
France 24
an hour ago
- France 24
Arsenal 'digging for gold' as title bid starts at new-look Man Utd
Arteta's side have finished as Premier League runners-up for the last three seasons, sparking criticism of their failure to get over the line in the title race. Arsenal blew significant leads when Manchester City pipped them to the trophy in 2023 and 2024 before Liverpool left the injury-plagued north Londoners trailing in their wake last season. Arsenal's title frustrations are mounting, with fans questioning whether Arteta is the right man to end their drought after winning only the 2020 FA Cup since he took charge in December 2019. But the Gunners showed their potential last season with a run to the Champions League semi-finals that ended with a narrow defeat against eventual winners Paris Saint-Germain. And, buoyed by a host of new signings worth over £180 million ($244 million) in total, Arteta is convinced they can finally get their hands on the Premier League silverware this season "You keep digging, digging, digging, and you have to be digging because one day the gold is going to be there," he told reporters on Friday. "For three seasons we've had more points than (nearly) any other team in this league, which is incredible. "You have the consistency, but now we have to do it in a season, to end with more points than any other team. "That's the objective. When I've been taught, when I've been educated, that's it." Hampered by injuries to Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz at various stages last season, Arsenal lacked a cutting edge and were held to 14 draws compared to Liverpool's nine. That was a crucial edge as Arsenal finished 10 points behind the champions. In an attempt to insulate Arsenal against another fitness-related collapse, Arteta has brought in Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres, Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi, Chelsea winger Noni Madueke and Brentford midfielder Christian Norgaard. 'Every game is like 'do-or-die' After bemoaning Arsenal's failure to sign Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins as Liverpool pulled away during the January window, the Spaniard is a far more upbeat figure on the eve of the new season. "I think we have great versatility, very different qualities in relation to the opposition, so we are very happy with that," he said. Arteta said "too many" teams have a legitimate shot at winning the Premier League for his liking, some he even suspects will "surprise everybody". Whether that was a hint United, who suffered their worst season since 1973-74 last term, could emerge as contenders after their summer spending spree remains to be seen. Arsenal were linked with a move for United's new striker Benjamin Sesko before deciding to bet on Gyokeres for a fee that could rise to £66 million. Gyokeres netted 97 times in 102 games in two years at Sporting, much of which came under United's current manager Ruben Amorim. Instead of being reunited with the Swede, Amorim overhauled his attack with the signings of Leipzig's Sesko, Brentford winger Bryan Mbeumo and Wolves forward Matheus Cunha at a combined cost of over £200 million. United, who haven't won the title since 2013, had to spend big to erase the stench of their putrid campaign. Amorim's team finished a dismal 15th in the top-flight and squandered a chance to qualify for the Champions League with a toothless 1-0 defeat against fellow underachievers Tottenham in the Europa League final. The pressure is on Amorim, who replaced the sacked Erik Ten Hag in November, to deliver major improvements in his second season. Amorim knows Sesko will be key to that target and he believes the 22-year-old Slovenian is ready to rise to the challenge. "I don't need to tell Ben, 'Ben, this is Manchester United, a lot of pressure. Every game is like do or die'," Amorim said.
France 24
4 hours ago
- France 24
Semenyo racist abuse at Liverpool shocks Bournemouth captain Smith
The match was briefly halted after half an hour when Semenyo told referee Anthony Taylor of the incident and both managers were informed. A Liverpool fan who had been seen gesturing towards the Ghanaian as he took a throw-in was led away by police at half-time. Semenyo showed remarkable poise to not only continue but go on to score twice in the second half as Bournemouth came within minutes of holding the defending champions to a draw until late strikes by Federico Chiesa and Mohamed Salah. "Totally unacceptable. Kind of in shock it happened in this day and age. I don't know how Ant has carried on playing and come up with his goals," said Smith. Premier League players have taken a knee before matches as part of anti-racism campaigns in recent seasons, but Smith said the message is still not getting through. Tottenham condemned the online racist abuse directed towards Mathys Tel this week after he missed a penalty in Spurs' UEFA Super Cup defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. "He's a little bit down. Something needs to be done. Taking a knee has taken no effect," Smith added. "It's more anger. Shocked. I said to the ref I wanted him removed immediately but the police went and sorted it. The Liverpool players were very supportive to Ant and the rest of the team. Just so angry. "We've had discussions with the Premier League about it so they have been taking it seriously. I don't know what else we can do. We've been doing it for a long time now and no-one is getting it. I just feel sorry for Ant and he's had to take that. The whole country is watching and it's shocking." Bournemouth boss Andoni Iraola said the incident had taken the shine off a thrilling start to the Premier League campaign on the field. "It is a shame that the first game of the Premier League, both teams playing a really good game we are speaking about this," said the Spaniard. "Most of the news will be about this thing and it is still a big problem not just in football but overall. We should be talking about how great the game has been." Liverpool boss Arne Slot spoke to Semenyo after the match and praised his mental strength. "We definitely need to address this. It is unacceptable in every football stadium let alone Anfield," said the Dutchman. "I spoke to him and said we will do whatever we can to find this person. "Big credit to him. He's not only a great player but is very strong mentally if something like that happened to have such a second half performance." In a statement, Liverpool said: "We condemn racism and discrimination in all forms, it has no place in society or football.
