Latest news with #JacobBethell
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Time of India
'Virat Kohli enjoys overseas lads who ...': Jacob Bethell jokes about 'too-soft' IPL beds during RCB stint
Jacob Bethell and Virat Kohli Fresh from the high-paced world of the IPL and straight into a Player-of-the-Match performance at Edgbaston, Jacob Bethell's rise in international cricket continues at speed. But the 21-year-old all-rounder's only light-hearted gripe about his jet-setting lifestyle? Hotel beds. "A lot of them are way too soft," Bethell quipped after smashing a blistering 82 in England's dominant 238-run win over the West Indies in the first ODI. "I've got a bad back and I'm only 21, so we need to sort that out. I might have to walk around with some memory foam. But no, I'm enjoying it." Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW! Despite missing England's recent Test series against Zimbabwe to warm the bench at Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Bethell insists the experience was far from wasted. He soaked up knowledge in the nets and watched closely as cricketing icon Virat Kohli went about his business. Who's that IPL player? "I definitely feel like I got a lot better," said Bethell. "Even though I only played two games, the training was intense — facing quality net bowlers and spinners every day. The way those guys think about playing spin — clinical and calculated — it was eye-opening." Josh Hazlewood - we picked up momentum from Jitesh's knock in Lucknow And then there was Kohli. "He's got whatever you call it these days — 'aura'. It's electrifying walking out with him. He's intense, but chilled off the field. I think he enjoys the overseas lads who don't fuss around him much," he added.
Observer
20 hours ago
- Sport
- Observer
England's Bethell glad of Kohli influence after 1st ODI heroics
Birmingham, United Kingdom: Jacob Bethell said time spent with Virat Kohli compensated for a limited playing stint in the Indian Premier League after he bolstered his hopes of a Test recall with an impressive one-day international innings against the West Indies. Bethell's expertly-paced 82 off 53 balls on his Edgbaston home ground was the top score in England's 400-8 that laid the foundations for a crushing 238-run win as the hosts took a 1-0 lead in a three-match ODI series on Thursday. There were few signs of ring rust in what was Bethell's first international appearance in three months after a hamstring injury ruled the 21-year-old out of the Champions Trophy before his IPL commitments meant he missed last week's Test win over Zimbabwe. Bethell featured just twice for Royal Challengers Bangalore, but on both occasions he opened the batting with India star Kohli, who recently retired from Test duty. "I can't think of a specific thing he said to me that I was like 'that's what I'm going to remember', but it was just an accumulation over the couple of months of chatting to him," Bethell said. "I think he quite enjoys the overseas boys because we're pretty chilled around him, but he's definitely got whatever they say nowadays: 'aura'. It was pretty electrifying to walk out with him. He's got a certain intensity, he flips that switch on as soon as he crosses that line. "It was cool to experience someone of his calibre and how he goes about doing things. "(The IPL) was a great experience and I've definitely taken a lot for my game. I feel like I'm a better player now than I was a couple of months ago." Bethell's IPL stint meant England avoided having to choose between him and vice-captain Ollie Pope at number three in the Test against Zimbabwe. But they could now face a tricky decision ahead of an upcoming five-Test series at home to India, with the issues further complicated by Pope's 171 against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge. Bethell's focus for the moment is on Sunday's second ODI in Cardiff, where England could complete a first 50-over series win since just before the 2023 World Cup. "Whatever happens, it will be and when the time comes, it'll be fine," Bethell added. "I'm still trying to cement my place in this one-day side and the T20 side. If I get a chance in that Test side, I'll be looking to do the same. I'm just taking it game by game." — AFP
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Young star Jacob Bethell defends missing Zimbabwe Test for IPL as Ollie Pope steals a march in battle to be England's number three
Jacob Bethell has no regrets about snubbing an England Test match to stay in the Indian Premier League — because he got to spend two months learning off Virat Kohli. The 21-year-old starred at No 3 for England in their winter Test tour of New Zealand but missed last week's match with Zimbabwe to continue his stint with Royal Challengers Bengaluru. In Bethell's absence at Trent Bridge, Ollie Pope scored 171 to stake his claim to keep the No 3 spot for next month's Test series with India. However, Bethell believes missing the Zimbabwe match was worth it after his IPL experience, having twice opened the batting with India great Kohli. 'Once I signed that IPL contract, I was away in India until May 26 and that meant I was missing the dates that the Test was on,' said Bethell. 'No discussions were had (about coming back). I was happy to stay over there and gain more experience. 'It's pretty electrifying to walk out to bat with Virat. He has an aura. Over the couple of months of chatting to him, you get information that keeps coming. It's kind of just drip-fed. 'It was cool to experience someone of his calibre and how he goes about things. 'I only played the two games, but with the training and facilities, you're facing quality bowlers day in, day out. 'It was a great experience and I feel like I'm a better player now than I was a couple of months ago.' Bethell was back playing for England in their first ODI with West Indies on Thursday, when he top-scored with 82 off 53 balls in their resounding 238-run win at Edgbaston. The Warwickshire star's stand-out knock further increased the scrutiny on the battle for the No 3 Test spot, which captain Ben Stokes inadvertently stoked up last week. Before the Zimbabwe match, Stokes appeared to suggest Bethell would return to the team for the India series regardless of how other players performed, before later clarifying he merely meant the squad. Asked if he was aware of the debate, Bethell said: 'Not being in England, I didn't really hear a lot of it until one of my friends messaged me and said the whole thing was going on.
eNCA
a day ago
- Sport
- eNCA
England's Bethell glad of Kohli influence after 1st ODI heroics
Jacob Bethell said time spent with Virat Kohli compensated for a limited playing stint in the Indian Premier League after he bolstered his hopes of a Test recall with an impressive one-day international innings against the West Indies. Bethell's expertly-paced 82 off 53 balls on his Edgbaston home ground was the top score in England's 400-8 that laid the foundations for a crushing 238-run win as the hosts took a 1-0 lead in a three-match ODI series on Thursday. There were few signs of ring rust in what was Bethell's first international appearance in three months after a hamstring injury ruled the 21-year-old out of the Champions Trophy before his IPL commitments meant he missed last week's Test win over Zimbabwe. Bethell featured just twice for Royal Challengers Bangalore, but on both occasions he opened the batting with India star Kohli, who recently retired from Test duty. "I can't think of a specific thing he said to me that I was like 'that's what I'm going to remember', but it was just an accumulation over the couple of months of chatting to him," Bethell said. "I think he quite enjoys the overseas boys because we're pretty chilled around him, but he's definitely got whatever they say nowadays: 'aura'. It was pretty electrifying to walk out with him. He's got a certain intensity, he flips that switch on as soon as he crosses that line. "It was cool to experience someone of his calibre and how he goes about doing things. "(The IPL) was a great experience and I've definitely taken a lot for my game. I feel like I'm a better player now than I was a couple of months ago." Bethell's IPL stint meant England avoided having to choose between him and vice-captain Ollie Pope at number three in the Test against Zimbabwe. But they could now face a tricky decision ahead of an upcoming five-Test series at home to India, with the issues further complicated by Pope's 171 against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge. Bethell's focus for the moment is on Sunday's second ODI in Cardiff, where England could complete a first 50-over series win since just before the 2023 World Cup. "Whatever happens, it will be, and when the time comes, it'll be fine," Bethell added. "I'm still trying to cement my place in this one-day side and the T20 side. If I get a chance in that Test side, I'll be looking to do the same. I'm just taking it game by game." jdg/bsp
The Guardian
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
‘He's got aura': England sensation Jacob Bethell on Virat Kohli and Test ambitions
Fresh off a plane from India and straight into a player-of-the-match performance for England on his home ground, Jacob Bethell's world is a pretty hectic one these days. But right now the only complaint about a jetset lifestyle that has seen him rubbing shoulders with Virat Kohli and tipped for superstardom himself is the hotel beds. 'A lot of them are way too soft,' said Bethell after the first one-day international against West Indies, his incendiary 82 having helped Harry Brook to a winning start as England captain. 'I have got a bad back and I'm only 21, so we need to sort that out. I might have to walk around with some memory foam. But no, I'm enjoying it.' Sign up to The Spin Subscribe to our cricket newsletter for our writers' thoughts on the biggest stories and a review of the week's action after newsletter promotion In many ways, being beamed up to the world of international cricket - and the franchise circuit that sits between it and the county game - is nothing new. Bethell has been on the road ever since he swapped Barbados for Rugby School, aged 12, and began training with Warwickshire's coaches every morning before lessons. Like that memory foam, Bethell probably wishes he could take the Edgbaston pitch with wherever he goes. Not that the runs he plundered during Thursday's 238-run win were easy pickings. Granted a platform had been set but there was a fiery spell from the ever-cranky Alzarri Joseph to negotiate before he began depositing the ball into the stands. Even with only a dash of stubble on his youthful features, there is a notable maturity to Bethell that possibly stems from that trans-Atlantic switch. Yet to taste a professional century, but already a three-format international, the all-rounder could be forgiven for a touch of imposter syndrome but instead he sounds as cool as they come. Take missing the recent Zimbabwe Test to sit on the bench at Royal Challengers Bangalore. It felt a misstep by England, not least with Bethell having made such an impression after being parachuted into No 3 in New Zealand last December. And yet the player himself is pretty zen about the whole thing, believing his game to have improved from the experience and not least watching an all-timer like Kohli at close quarters. 'I definitely feel like I got a lot better,' said Bethell. 'I only played the two games, but the training and the facilities, you're facing quality net bowlers and spinners day in, day out. And just the way those batters go about thinking about playing spin, they're pretty clinical in how they pick length and the deliveries they try and hit for four and six. 'I think [Kohli] quite enjoys the overseas boys because we're just pretty chilled around him, but yeah, he's definitely got whatever they say nowadays: 'aura' - It's pretty electrifying to walk out with him. He's got a certain intensity with him, he flips that switch on as soon as he crosses that line, which is pretty cool to see.' As well as 'little day-to-day routines' to stay sane on the road, Bethell is also not one for social media. Instead, it took a friend – it is always a friend – to tell him he had been the subject of a fair few headlines after Ben Stokes seemed to suggest he would be straight back into the Test side to face India, only to later claim his words had been 'twisted'. 'I was pretty far away to be honest,' said Bethell, 'I didn't really hear a lot of it until I think one of my friends messaged me and said the whole thing was going on. But I haven't really followed it. I obviously played in New Zealand as a replacement for a replacement [Jordan Cox suffered an injury on tour, with Jamie Smith already on paternity leave]. So whatever happens, it will be, and when the time comes, it will be fine. 'I'm still trying to cement my place in this one-day side, the T20 side, and if I get a chance in that Test side, I'll be looking to do the same. But at the minute I'm just taking it game by game.' That next game is this Sunday in Cardiff, where England have the chance to wrap up their first series win in ODI cricket since the summer before the 2023 World Cup. Part of the new guard that was ushered in after that sorry campaign and the similarly poor T20 World Cup that followed it, Bethell is starting to bed in.
