He's going to be some player – Harry Brook hails ‘exceptional' Jacob Bethell
Harry Brook believes there is a lot more to come from Jacob Bethell after the young all-rounder helped England to a resounding one-day win over the West Indies at Edgbaston.
Speculation over whether Bethell will return to the Test side against India this summer will only increase after a buccaneering 82 from 53 balls from the 21-year-old in this Metro Bank series opener.
Bethell paced his innings to perfection, going along at a run-a-ball from his first 38 deliveries before upping the ante to lift England to 400 for eight before the Windies folded to 162 all out.
We've got a real star on our hands in Jacob Bethell ⭐
See every boundary from his incredible innings: https://t.co/hG2xb0BGxw #ENGvWI | #EnglandCricket pic.twitter.com/bTprgHpyDr
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) May 29, 2025
After beginning his tenure as England white-ball captain with a 238-run win which snapped a seven-match losing streak in this format, Brook said of Bethell: 'He batted beautifully there.
'When one of us gets going, most of the time it's hard to stop us and he showed that. He couldn't go on and get three figures but it was a match-winning innings and he's going to be some player.
'He's a confident lad, I don't think he needs too much more bigging up, he knows he's a good player and we all know he's an exceptional player. He's going to have a very long England career if he keeps on batting the way he does. He brings so much to a side (because) he can bowl and field as well.'
Injury sidelined Barbados-born Bethell for England's shambolic Champions Trophy campaign earlier this year, while his Indian Premier League commitments meant he missed last week's Test win over Zimbabwe.
That spared England's selectors a tricky decision over whether to stick with Bethell at number three after he excelled in New Zealand last December or restore vice-captain Ollie Pope back to first drop.
Pope made a century at Trent Bridge to quieten his critics but Ben Stokes inadvertently fanned the flames on the issue by hinting Bethell would return to the XI for the marquee series against India.
Stokes later clarified Bethell would only come back into the squad for the first of five Tests, starting on June 20 at Headingley, although the youngster revealed he is taking it all in his stride.
Bethell told the BBC's Test Match Special: 'Not a lot has been said to me, to be honest. At the end of the day in Test cricket, those boys have their spots and whatever happens, happens. I'll just be happy with whatever.'
Bethell put the finishing touches on England's innings following earlier half-centuries from Ben Duckett (60), Joe Root (57) and Brook (58), while every batter in their top seven passed 35.
A decade on from posting a 400-plus total in ODIs for the first time in Birmingham to kick-start Eoin Morgan's revival of the limited-overs sides, England posted their highest total in three years and their best against a Test-playing nation since 2019.
Brook said: 'It was a pretty exceptional start from the boys. Hopefully we can top that. The tempo we batted with throughout the innings was pretty much spot on.
'I got out with 20 overs to go and I felt like I was sat watching for about three hours. You can give yourself, 10, 15 or 20 balls to get in and then you can soon catch up.'
Defeat to start the ODI series against England in Birmingham.🏏 #ENGvWI | #MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/WM3jrqAqb3
— Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) May 29, 2025
Brook claimed a record-equalling five catches by an outfielder in an ODI as the Windies were skittled in 26.2 overs, with Saqib Mahmood taking three wickets and Jamie Overton doing likewise despite dislocating his finger in his first over.
England can wrap up the three-match series in Cardiff but Windies head coach Darren Sammy has demanded an improvement from his side as he said: 'We were really outplayed – that was just not good enough.'
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Times
4 hours ago
- Times
Joe Root rescues England and seals series with sublime century
One-day internationals can come and go, gone from the memory banks as quickly as some of the balls fly to the boundary, but sometimes they can linger. Sometimes an individual's brilliance, particularly when it goes against the grain of most modern thinking and hitting, will make a lasting impression, and that will surely be the case here after Joe Root's match-winning innings. It was that special; a magnificent unbeaten 166 (off only 139 balls), his 18th century in ODIs and 54th in total in international cricket, that, with its class and character, rescued England from a perilous position. It was clearly one of his finest innings, but all he would say was: 'It was good fun, I enjoyed it.' The 34-year-old went on to praise England's bowlers for restricting West Indies to 308 when 350 had looked likely at one stage. He had some luck early on, but the crispness and touch of his strokes — a back-foot punch and on drive, both off Jayden Seales, stand out most — and the calmness of his decision-making as the pressure grew were a joy to behold. We really are lucky to be able to watch a player of such greatness; such orthodoxy that can find its metier amid the muscle and the mayhem. And, given Root's age, we should cherish every moment of it. Root was superbly supported by Will Jacks, who is clearly revelling in his new role at No 7, in a partnership of 143 that helped England to an unassailable 2-0 series lead, ensuring tomorrow's finale at the Oval will be a dead-rubber match. 'The way that Jacksy played was exceptional,' Root said. 'In a position in which he has not batted a lot, to show the maturity, skill levels, calmness and clarity he did was really impressive.' It was the highest chase in an ODI at Cardiff and was scant reward for Keacy Carty's fluent fourth ODI century, but, without wishing to be too harsh and it was indeed pleasing to see West Indies competitive after Thursday's mauling at Edgbaston, Carty summed up where West Indies erred. Having been inserted on what turned out to be a good pitch, they really should have got so many more. They were bowled out with 2.2 overs of their innings remaining, and Carty will know that, with just under 15 overs of the innings left, he should then have gone for the kill rather than tamely being stumped off Jacks's off spin. It was hard too on Brandon King and Shai Hope, the captain, who both made half-centuries, as well as Alzarri Joseph, who bowled with pace and hostility. AP And England were actually poor in many areas. They were horribly sloppy in the field, dropping catches for fun, and, for all the excellence of Saqib Mahmood and Adil Rashid with the ball, they missed the injured Jamie Overton when attempting to intimidate West Indies with the short-ball ploy that had worked so well in Birmingham. With the bat they began horrifically and, though Harry Brook, the captain, sparkled briefly, it required something special from Root to take them to victory. The inexperienced West Indies opener Jewel Andrew got a duck but thereafter Carty and King put on a run-a-ball partnership of 141 that laid a solid foundation for the visiting team. Brydon Carse snared Andrew and could have had more immediately too but Ben Duckett failed to take two difficult catches at second slip, while Mahmood dropped King on 42 off Jacob Bethell. England could also have run either of Carty or King out when they were stranded mid-pitch after a mix-up, but Duckett chose the safe option of an underarm throw to the wicketkeeper from mid-on and, sadly, it was more of a lob and King made his ground. Inevitably it was the ever-reliable leg spinner Rashid who broke the partnership, persuading King to hit him to Carse at long-off. Shimron Hetmyer was trapped leg-before by Rashid and Justin Greaves went when Duckett at last had some success in the field, taking the catch at long-off to give Bethell a wicket. Brook took a brilliant tumbling catch to dismiss Matthew Forde and Roston Chase edged the next ball from Mahmood behind, and the end then came swiftly for West Indies, even if there was another fielding howler as Root dropped Hope before catching Gudakesh Motie the next ball off Rashid. Joseph slogged merrily, going six, four, out to Rashid, whose four wickets cost 63, before Hope was the last man out to Mahmood, who finished with three for 37. GETTY In reply England made the worst possible start, losing both openers for ducks, Jamie Smith edging a good ball from Seales in the first over, and Duckett completed a miserable day by slicing Forde to third man. And it could have been a third duck, as Root would have been a long way out from a direct hit when Brook called him for a single. And, on seven, Root was so close to being leg-before to Forde. The review just, and only just, fell in Root's favour. Next ball Brook, on 30, was dropped behind off Seales and Root could have been run out again on 30, before Brook top-edged Joseph to long leg. And a third duck did come, and it was a sketchy seven-ball one for Jos Buttler, bowled off his back elbow by Joseph. Root passed Eoin Morgan as England's leading runscorer in ODIs (he would take his record tally to 7,082) and made fifty from only 52 balls, but Bethell could not repeat his Edgbaston heroics, leg-before to Chase, and from the last 20 overs England required 142 with five wickets in hand. It was a tough ask, but Root pulled Motie for six to go to 96 and went to his hundred off 98 balls with a swept four next ball. Still 105 runs were needed, though, but three fours in a Chase over, including two reverse-sweeps, soon reduced that. With ten overs left, England, with Root on 132, required only 64. Root went to his highest ODI score (previously 133 not out) with a straight six off Greaves. 'It's a sign you're getting old,' he said afterwards with further typical modesty. West Indies seemed to delay Joseph's return to the attack too long, because, when he did reappear, he trapped Jacks leg-before for 49, with 33 still to win. On Root surged, though, passing 150 off 129 balls. Carse was bounced out by Joseph, who bowled a wicket maiden to finish off a valiant effort, but Root found further assistance from Rashid and, fittingly, the great man hit the winning runs, with seven balls remaining, with another beautiful on-drive. Simple and perfect.
North Wales Chronicle
11 hours ago
- North Wales Chronicle
Match-winner Joe Root vows he still has ‘a lot to give' for England
England's pursuit of 309 appeared doomed after lurching to two for two and 133 for five at Cardiff but Root showed his enduring class with an ODI-best 166 not out off 139 balls to seal a three-wicket win. In helping England move into an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match Metro Bank series, Root became his country's most prolific run-scorer, overhauling former captain Eoin Morgan's tally of 6,957. Player Of The Match 🏅 Who else? 👌 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 1, 2025 'It's a sign you're getting old, having played as many games as that,' the 34-year-old said with a smile after becoming the first Englishman to go past 7,000 ODI runs. Root, who is also England's record Test run-scorer and the top-ranked batter in that format, insisted he is nowhere near winding down and is as hungry as he ever was to add to his achievements. 'I want to give as much as I can for England for as long as I can,' he said. 'I've still got a lot to give and a lot more runs in there and hopefully, an innings like that shows that. 'Until that desire, that want to get better every day, want to add to the group and want to be not out at the end of a chase like that, when that's not a burning desire any more, it will be time to stop. 'It doesn't feel like that's anywhere near the case at the moment and I'll keep just trying to do my part in helping us win games and series down the line.' Harry Brook has guided England to a first ODI series triumph since September 2023 after replacing Jos Buttler, who rarely had a full-strength squad to choose from when he led the white-ball sides. Root played just 19 ODIs between England's triumphant 2019 World Cup and the forgettable 2023 defence as priority was given to the Test side but he wants to be at the vanguard of rebuilding the 50-over team. 'I've played a huge amount of cricket with Jos and almost felt guilty that I wasn't able to be there for him throughout a lot of his tenure,' Root said. 'Now that there's more chances and more opportunities to play ODI cricket, I want to be involved in that. I want to play as much as I can for England. If I'm going to make the team better, then absolutely.' England had a ragged display in the field with four dropped catches – with Root shelling one – and two missed run-outs as Keacy Carty's 103 underpinned the Windies' total of 308 all out after 47.4 overs. But having been 170 for two after 30 overs, the tourists faded as Adil Rashid took four wickets and Saqib Mahmood three and Root believes Brook's tactical acumen with field placings and game management came to the fore at a blustery Sophia Gardens. While claiming his fellow Yorkshireman is 'an idiot' off the field, Root, who helped England reel in the total with seven balls to spare, hailed Brook's cricketing smarts. 'As much as he's an idiot away from cricket – and I can say that because I've known him forever – he's very cricket intelligent,' Root added. 'He understands the game exceptionally well. 'I think that's what will make him a really good leader as well. I think you saw he might see the game slightly differently, and he might do things differently, but it asked different questions.'
Glasgow Times
11 hours ago
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Match-winner Joe Root vows he still has ‘a lot to give' for England
England's pursuit of 309 appeared doomed after lurching to two for two and 133 for five at Cardiff but Root showed his enduring class with an ODI-best 166 not out off 139 balls to seal a three-wicket win. In helping England move into an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match Metro Bank series, Root became his country's most prolific run-scorer, overhauling former captain Eoin Morgan's tally of 6,957. Player Of The Match 🏅 Who else? 👌 — England Cricket (@englandcricket) June 1, 2025 'It's a sign you're getting old, having played as many games as that,' the 34-year-old said with a smile after becoming the first Englishman to go past 7,000 ODI runs. Root, who is also England's record Test run-scorer and the top-ranked batter in that format, insisted he is nowhere near winding down and is as hungry as he ever was to add to his achievements. 'I want to give as much as I can for England for as long as I can,' he said. 'I've still got a lot to give and a lot more runs in there and hopefully, an innings like that shows that. 'Until that desire, that want to get better every day, want to add to the group and want to be not out at the end of a chase like that, when that's not a burning desire any more, it will be time to stop. 'It doesn't feel like that's anywhere near the case at the moment and I'll keep just trying to do my part in helping us win games and series down the line.' Joe Root became England's all-time leading run-scorer at Cardiff (Nick Potts/PA) Harry Brook has guided England to a first ODI series triumph since September 2023 after replacing Jos Buttler, who rarely had a full-strength squad to choose from when he led the white-ball sides. Root played just 19 ODIs between England's triumphant 2019 World Cup and the forgettable 2023 defence as priority was given to the Test side but he wants to be at the vanguard of rebuilding the 50-over team. 'I've played a huge amount of cricket with Jos and almost felt guilty that I wasn't able to be there for him throughout a lot of his tenure,' Root said. 'Now that there's more chances and more opportunities to play ODI cricket, I want to be involved in that. I want to play as much as I can for England. If I'm going to make the team better, then absolutely.' England had a ragged display in the field with four dropped catches – with Root shelling one – and two missed run-outs as Keacy Carty's 103 underpinned the Windies' total of 308 all out after 47.4 overs. Harry Brook led England to their first ODI series win since September 2023 (Nick Potts/PA) But having been 170 for two after 30 overs, the tourists faded as Adil Rashid took four wickets and Saqib Mahmood three and Root believes Brook's tactical acumen with field placings and game management came to the fore at a blustery Sophia Gardens. While claiming his fellow Yorkshireman is 'an idiot' off the field, Root, who helped England reel in the total with seven balls to spare, hailed Brook's cricketing smarts. 'As much as he's an idiot away from cricket – and I can say that because I've known him forever – he's very cricket intelligent,' Root added. 'He understands the game exceptionally well. 'I think that's what will make him a really good leader as well. I think you saw he might see the game slightly differently, and he might do things differently, but it asked different questions.'
