After missing out on the Test against Zimbabwe, Jacob Bethell finds himself back in the squad for the five-Test series against India beginning on 20th June.
Bethell’s short career thus far has consisted of 260 runs in three Tests, at an average of 52, with three half-centuries.
He made his debut on England’s tour of New Zealand in November 2024.
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The Barbados-born left-hander is touted to become one of the future stars of English cricket.
He will be part of a 15-man squad for the first Test.
Ben Stokes (captain), Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Jacob Bethell, Jamie Smith (wicketkeeper), Chris Woakes, Jamie Overton, Brydon Carse, Sam Cook, Josh Tongue, Shoaib Bashir.
The England Captain has indicated that Bethel could play a significant role in the series.
“If you’re smart enough, the series that Beth had out in New Zealand, obviously he’s going to be back in the UK for that India series,” “So, I think you put two and two together, you probably know what’s going to happen.”
Stokes: BBC SportCan Bethell deliver the goods when it matters?
Woakes Returns, No Place For Potts
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Having been left out of the squad for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe, the veteran seamer from Warwickshire finds himself back in the England squad.
Woakes did not feature in the ODI series against the West Indies, as he was recovering from a long-term ankle injury that he sustained in the SA20 tournament in February.
In his 57 Tests, Woakes has been a key performer for England, taking 181 wickets at an average of 28.24.
He also has 1,970 runs at an average of 26.26, with seven fifties and a century against India at Lord’s in 2018.
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Can he make an impact on his return to Test cricket?
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Unfortunately, there is no room for Durham speedster Matt Potts, as Essex’s Sam Cook gets the nod ahead of him by the Chief Selector, Luke Wright.
“It’s really tough on Pottsy,” “It was probably between him and Cookie for that other spare bowler, if we were to lose Woakesy, and we just felt that maybe Cookie has got the edge with that new ball. But we know what Potts is all about. It’s not easy for him, but it’s great to have him as a squad bowler in the pack, if any injuries happen. But on this occasion, he’s just missed out.”
Wight: ESPN Cricinfo
But as this is such a big series, surely you would want someone with a bit more experience?
Root Hunting Down Dravid And Kallis
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England’s highest run scorer has been such a key player for them in Tests. With 13,006 runs to his name, everybody knows how big a wicket he is.
Moreover, he is just 282 runs from surpassing India’s Rahul Dravid, and 283 from South Africa’s Jacques Kallis.
As this is a five-Test series, it is touch and go in terms of whether he will be able to achieve those feats, given the quality of India’s bowling, especially Jasprit Bumrah, with whom he has had some good battles.
Root is England’s fourth most capped player after James Anderson, Stuart Broad, and Alistair Cook, with 153 Tests played.
How much of an impact will he have on this series?
Can England win the Series against India?
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