by Jacob Bethell was happy to get to work for England after admitting he struggled to tune out the outside noise during his low-key international debut.
Inducted as part of England’s white-ball reset, Bethell was labelled a future “superstar” by interim head coach Marcus Trescothick ahead of the three-match T20 series against Australia this week.
After his family arranged a trip from their native Barbados to see him in action, Bethell bowled three overs of useful spin and was dismissed for two as Australia won the Utilita Bowl.
But Bethell underlined why he was destined for greatness on Friday with a 44 from just 24 balls in Cardiff as England levelled the series to set up a decider at Emirates Old Trafford on Sunday.
“There’s obviously a lot that goes with making your debut: everything that happens off the pitch, the cap presentations, it’s all very sentimental and enjoyable,” the 20-year-old reflected.
“But it’s quite difficult to concentrate on cricket so it was good to put that aside. It was a special night but it was good to get into the game (in Cardiff) and put in a good performance.”
The second T20 was in limbo when Bethell walked to the crease with England on 79 for three in pursuit of 194, but he put on 90 in just 47 balls with Liam Livingstone to break the back of the chase.
What probably tipped the scales in England’s favour was Bethell’s 20 runs from five throws against Australia’s top bowler Adam Zampa, who had completely beaten the youngster 48 hours earlier.
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1st T20, Utilita Bowl, Wednesday 11 September – Australia won by 28 runs
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2nd T20, Cardiff, Friday 13 September – England won by three wickets
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3rd T20, Emirates Old Trafford, Sunday 15 September
Bethell used his feet brilliantly to trouble the leg-spinner and snatch four successive boundaries before Livingstone’s 87 from 47 balls underpinned a three-wicket win with six balls to spare.
“That’s how it goes when you come into the middle of the field,” Bethell said. “You always tend to come when the game is balanced. Livi was doing well, so I didn’t want to put any pressure on him.”
“I just wanted to play powerful shots and stand out, until the opportunity came to take advantage of a match, and I did. Fortunately, it paid off.
“Obviously Zampa is a great bowler so to be able to do that against him was brilliant.”
Bethell’s parents and two sisters arrived in England just before Wednesday’s first game, having originally planned to come at the end of the month for Warwickshire’s end-of-season dinner.
His brother was unable to make the trip from Barbados, where Bethell was born and lived until he was 12 before moving to England after accepting a cricket scholarship to Rugby School.
But he enjoyed performing in front of his family for the first time, adding: “They gave up so much to give me the opportunity to come here.
“To do it in front of them – they haven’t seen me play a lot of live cricket, so to finally watch me, and in international colours, it’s unreal.
“I just went to greet them (after the game). They were happy. They just said they were proud. Emotions run high on nights like these, but they’re happy and I’m happy, so it’s good.”
