Royal Challengers Bangalore had made a huge bid for 21-year-old England all-rounder Jacob Bethel in the IPL mega auction. Bethel had entered the auction with a base price of Rs 1.25 crore. During this time, Punjab Kings and Sunrisers Hyderabad also showed interest. But the Bengaluru franchise had made up its mind to buy him. Therefore, she kept betting till Punjab and Hyderabad backed out and bought her for Rs 2.60 crore and included her in the team. But soon after his bet of crores, Bethel flopped.
Scored only 10 runs on debut
Jacob Bethel has the support of veteran cricketers of England. Many legends including Alastair Cook and Nasir Hussain have appreciated his talent. At the same time, England Test team captain Ben Stokes also shows blind trust in him. Therefore, without any first class century, he gave Bethel a chance to debut in the first Test being played against New Zealand in Christchurch.
After 46 years, England has included a batsman in the Test team who does not have a century in his name in the first class. However, he could not take advantage of this opportunity. Bethel, famous for his stormy batting, could score only 10 runs at a strike rate of 29 in his first Test innings. For this he faced 34 balls.
RCB’s plans ruined?
This time RCB has included fast batting players. In such a situation, it would be wrong to judge Bethel’s T20 performance from his Test innings. The left-handed Bethel usually plays in the middle order. In 2024, he has played 7 T20 International matches, in which he has scored 173 runs at a strike rate of 167 and an average of 57. He made his T20 debut against Australia this year.
England recovered after stumbling
England is currently in New Zealand for a 3-match test series. Its first match is being played in Christchurch from 28th November. Ben Stokes won the toss and decided to bowl first. New Zealand team scored 348 runs in the first innings. On the second day of the game i.e. on 29 November, the England team got a chance to bat but it lost 4 wickets for 71 runs. Jack Crawley and Joe Root returned without opening the account.
Ben Duckett scored 46 runs and Jacob Bethel scored 10 runs. However, after 4 wickets fell, Ollie Pope and Harry Brook took over the team. By the time the news was written, there was a partnership of more than 80 runs between the two. Brook is present at the crease after scoring 52 runs and Pope is at 48 runs. At the same time, England team has scored 161 runs with the loss of 4 wickets and is behind by 187 runs.