Jacob Bethell has been appointed as the captain of England’s T20 international cricket team for the upcoming series against Ireland, making him a strong contender to become the country’s youngest international men’s captain in 136 years. The 21-year-old all-rounder from Warwickshire will lead the team in Dublin from September 17 to 21, 2023, as part of their preparations for the T20 World Cup scheduled for next year in India and Sri Lanka.
If Bethell takes to the field as captain, he will surpass the record held by Monty Bowden, who was 23 years and 144 days old when he captained England in a Test against South Africa in 1888/89. Despite not yet achieving a professional century across formats, Bethell has become a notable figure in England’s white-ball cricket, with 13 T20 appearances and 12 One Day Internationals (ODIs) since his T20 debut in September 2022.
Leadership Opportunity Amid Team Changes
England selector Luke Wright expressed confidence in Bethell’s leadership capabilities, stating that the upcoming series against Ireland will allow him to further enhance those skills on the international stage. Bethell’s latest international outing came during the deciding Test match against India at the Oval, where he stepped in for the injured red-ball captain Ben Stokes. In that match, he scored six and five runs and did not take any wickets.
Criticism regarding Bethell’s selection has emerged, particularly from former England captain Michael Vaughan, who labeled the decision to include him in such a significant match as “diabolical,” given his limited first-class experience this season. Nonetheless, the England management seems to be focusing on new leadership strategies, especially after deciding to rest regular white-ball captain Harry Brook following the ODI and T20 series against South Africa.
Squad Adjustments Ahead of the Ashes
In addition to Bethell’s appointment, several key players will be absent from the Ireland series. The all-format quartet of Ben Duckett, Jamie Smith, Jofra Archer, and Brydon Carse have been rested to prepare for the upcoming Ashes campaign, which begins in Australia on November 21, 2023. Fast bowlers Mark Wood and Gus Atkinson also will not participate, as both are focusing on their recovery for the Australia tour, while uncapped fast bowler Sonny Baker has earned a place in the squad.
The England squads for the series against Ireland and the preceding matches against South Africa are as follows:
**T20I Squad vs Ireland**
– Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire) – Captain
– Rehan Ahmed (Leicestershire)
– Sonny Baker (Hampshire)
– Tom Banton (Somerset)
– Jos Buttler (Lancashire)
– Liam Dawson (Hampshire)
– Tom Hartley (Lancashire)
– Will Jacks (Surrey)
– Saqib Mahmood (Lancashire)
– Jamie Overton (Surrey)
– Matthew Potts (Durham)
– Adil Rashid (Yorkshire)
– Phil Salt (Lancashire)
– Luke Wood (Lancashire)
As England prepares for a busy season that includes the T20 World Cup, Bethell’s leadership will be closely watched as he takes on this pivotal role. His performance and ability to guide the team through this series could set the tone for England’s future in the shorter formats of the game.
