Image Source: Susie Rack – West Midlands; Phil Upton – BBC CWR
Key Takeaways
- Jacob Bethell, 22, scored his maiden Test match century in England’s Ashes defeat against Australia
- Bethell’s former cricket teacher, Michael Powell, says "cricket was in his blood" when he first met him as a Warwickshire schoolboy
- Powell attributes Bethell’s batting ability to his upbringing in Barbados, where he would hit balls on his veranda every day
- Bethell is the fifth man to score his first first-class hundred in a Test for England
- Powell believes Bethell’s experience facing taller opponents in Barbados helped him develop his batting skills, particularly against fast bowlers
Introduction to Jacob Bethell’s Cricket Career
Jacob Bethell, the 22-year-old English cricketer, has been making waves in the cricket world with his impressive performance in the Ashes series against Australia. Despite England’s defeat, Bethell’s maiden Test match century has brought a silver lining to the team’s efforts. According to his former cricket teacher, Michael Powell, it was evident that "cricket was in his blood" from the moment he met him as a Warwickshire schoolboy. Powell, a former Warwickshire captain, had the opportunity to work with Bethell when he joined Rugby School on a cricket scholarship at the age of 12.
Early Signs of Talent
Powell recalls that Bethell quickly showed his ability and desire to excel in the sport. He remembers throwing a few tennis balls to the "tiny" youngster and being impressed by the "flow of the bat" that he displayed. As Powell noted, "You just saw the flow of the bat that we’ve seen this week." This natural talent, combined with his dedication and passion for the game, made it clear that Bethell was destined for great things. Powell believes that Bethell’s upbringing in Barbados played a significant role in shaping his batting ability. As he explained, "That stems from the environment that he was brought up in and quite simply a ball on a string on his veranda overlooking Barbados and that’s where he was every morning, every afternoon, every evening, hitting that ball."
The Role of Upbringing in Shaping Bethell’s Batting Ability
Powell attributes Bethell’s success to the hours he spent honing his skills on his veranda in Barbados. By facing balls every day, Bethell developed a natural ability to cope with the challenges of fast bowling. As Powell noted, "Most of the deliveries he faced were in his upper half. So he had to develop a way to cope with that, which he did naturally because that’s all he faced." This experience has served Bethell well in his Test match debut, where he has shown himself to be more than capable of handling the Australian fast bowlers. Powell believes that this ability to cope with the "most dangerous weapon a fast bowler has" has given Bethell the confidence to take on the rest of the bowling attack.
A Special Week for the Bethell Household
The past week has been a special one for the Bethell household, with Jacob’s family watching with pride as he made his Test match debut. Powell, who has been a part of Bethell’s journey, has been thrilled to see the young player achieve his dream. As he said, "It’s been a very special week in the Bethell household and I think we’ve all seen live what it’s meant to Jacob himself out in the middle and also his family." Bethell’s achievement is all the more impressive given that he is only the fifth man to score his first first-class hundred in a Test for England.
Conclusion and Future Prospects
In conclusion, Jacob Bethell’s maiden Test match century is a testament to his hard work, dedication, and natural talent. With the support of his family and facilitators like Michael Powell, Bethell has been able to develop his skills and achieve his goals. As he looks to the future, it will be exciting to see how Bethell continues to grow and develop as a player. With his impressive debut behind him, Bethell is sure to be a key player for England in the years to come. As Powell noted, Bethell’s success is a result of the "environment that he was brought up in" and the "ball on a string on his veranda overlooking Barbados" that he spent hours hitting as a child. With this solid foundation, the future looks bright for this talented young cricketer.
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