Former England captain Michael Vaughan believes it is “inevitable” that Jacob Bethell will feature in the Ashes series despite missing selection for this week’s series opener against India in Leeds.
On Thursday, England confirmed its starting XI for the first Test at Headingley, with vice-captain Ollie Pope retaining his spot at No. 3 despite Bethell’s rapid ascent through the ranks.
Pope has been England’s first-choice option at No. 3 since coach Brendon McCullum took charge of the Test side in 2022, but he has averaged 33.37 in the red-ball format since the start of February last year.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, England captain Ben Stokes insisted that Pope was never in danger of being dropped for the Headingley Test despite Bethell’s sudden emergence.
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Vaughan applauded England’s selection panel for persisting with Pope despite the recent dip in form, but suggested his skillset was more suited to a middle-order role.
“I like Ollie’s energy with the bat in hand, but not at No. 3,” Vaughan told Fox Cricket.
“I think he’s a great engine room player. His record at No. 3 is pretty good. He’s scored some nice hundreds, but he’s very vulnerable inside the first 20-odd balls. When you’re up against quality, that’s going to be a real stress for the England side.
“In a funny way, I’m happy they’ve picked him because they’ve stayed really loyal and consistent, but there’s something about Jacob Bethell that they may have missed a trick.”
Bethell, touted as one England’s most promising young players, made his Test debut during last year’s tour of New Zealand, cracking 260 runs at 52.00 with three half-centuries across three matches. He also claimed a three-wicket haul with his left-armed spin during England’s 423-run defeat in Hamilton.
With wicketkeepers Jamie Smith and Jordan Cox unavailable for selection due to paternity leave and injury respectively, Pope donned the gloves in New Zealand and looked comfortable batting at No. 6, scoring consecutive fifties against the Black Caps.
Pope returned to his favoured position at first drop for last month’s one-off Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge and smacked 171 from 166 balls in a timely return to form, with Bethell missing the match due to Indian Premier League commitments.
Vaughan warned that Bethell will heap further pressure on Pope if the Surrey batter fails to tame Indian speedster Jasprit Bumrah and his teammates over the coming six weeks.
“England are not scared of making tough calls,” Vaughan said.
“I thought they would put more weight on what Bethell did against New Zealand pre-Christmas than what Ollie Pope did against Zimbabwe.
“The cricketing gods would have been after England if they had dropped someone who just got 170-odd against Zimbabwe.”
He continued: “Pope will know that he needs runs, and that 171 against Zimbabwe will get lost and forgotten if he doesn’t score runs against Bumrah and co. this week.
“Leading into an Ashes series, the last thing you’d want is two or three of your players to lose form and their positions in the side becomes a talking point. That’s the one thing that England can’t afford to have going to Australia.
“You don’t really judge players on hundreds against Zimbabwe or Ireland. You judge them against the better teams, India and Australia.”
Bethell, who turned 21 last year, has made a promising start to his international career, scoring fifties in all three formats and making appearances in the IPL and Big Bash League.
“He’s just got something very special. I think he’s going to be a wonderful player,” Vaughan continued.
“England will get him into the side eventually. It’s just a matter of when he gets picked.
“You saw him against New Zealand at No. 3, he just looked a real natural player of the game.
“I think it’s inevitable he’s going to be in the side (for the Ashes).”
Elsewhere, India arrives in England with a new-look team following the retirements of modern greats Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin. Shubman Gill has been appointed as captain, while the likes of Sai Sudharsan and Karun Nair are expected to slot into the starting XI.
Vaughan predicted that Kohli’s dressing room presence and on-field energy would be missed more than his batting – the Indian superstar had a modest record in the United Kingdom, while he struggled with the willow during last summer’s Test tour of Australia.
“Kohli is a legend and a culture creator around this Indian team, and what he brought as a captain to the team is still there in terms of the energy and the drive and the aggression,” Vaughan said.
“But he only averaged 33 here in the UK. You don’t massively miss someone that averages 33, but you miss someone that brings so much to the dressing room.”
He continued: “These players that are going to come in and play for India, they’re seriously good players.
“Maybe this new generation has been waiting. Maybe they’ve been waiting for this moment. Don’t be surprised that they play really well.”
The first Test between England and India at Headingley gets underway on Friday at 8pm AEST. Catch the epic rivalry between England and India live on Kayo Sports.
