Jacob Bethell

Exciting young Warwickshire cricketer Jacob Bethell has climbed his way to the top since arriving as a 12-year-old with a dream to play for his county – and for England 

Jacob Bethell is England’s exciting new young cricket star who exploded on the world scene in the past 12 months after coming to Warwickshire as a junior – and realising his dream. After admitting that he felt “far away” from the England set-up at the start of last season, the talented all-rounder’s remarkable rise culminated with a surprise call-up to the Test party that toured New Zealand in November. His red ball debut saw him score 50 not out off 37 balls – the joint second fastest debut half-century by an English batter.

That followed his first appearance two months earlier for the senior England side in the white ball series against Australia, where he smashed 44 off 24 balls in the second T20 match, going on to play in all five one-day internationals.

BEARS FIRST

Of his rapid rise, Jacob said: “My first goal last season was to be fit and cement my place in the Warwickshire team. That was point one. But doing things consistently and carrying on the performances for the Bears led to where I am now. It definitely has happened quickly. I knew there had been eyes on me from chats I’d had, so it was just a matter of putting in performances to show people I could do it.”

Barbados-born Jacob moved to Warwickshire to pursue his cricket dream when he was only 12. He joined Warwickshire’s Youth Pathway at Under-14s and quickly progressed into the Emerging Player Programme and Academy before signing as a 17-year-old in 2021.

Last November’s tour to the Windies saw Jacob, now 21, head back to familiar haunts and reunions with childhood friends. He said: “Having a couple of games where I grew up in Barbados was pretty special. I was able to relax and catch up with people. My mates came to the matches wearing England Bethell shirts but combined with West Indies hats!”

WINDIES RETURN

England’s 2025 summer of home internationals starts on 22 May with a Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, followed by a first white ball game against the Windies on 29 May at Jacob’s home ground, Edgbaston.

He says he expects to be ready to play for Warwickshire in April at the start of the County Championship season. “I want to play a full part next year for Warwickshire. At the moment that’s what I’m looking at. If anything else does come up it means that things have gone well and I’ll have other opportunities, which is also great. But Warwickshire is the foundation of where my cricket game developed so I want to play for the Bears as much as possible.”

Jacob’s Test appearances against New Zealand in the winter came while first-choice wicketkeeper Jamie Smith was on paternity leave. Jacob made three half-centuries, including top-scoring for England with 76 on the fourth and final day of the last Test in Hamilton. What’s more, he became only the second England batter – after Sir Alastair Cook, no less – to reach 50 three times in the same series before the age of 22.

HAPPY HEADACHE

Unsurprisingly, Jacob’s exciting record so far with England has given head coach Brendon McCullum a selection decision to make moving forward – with the Warwickshire lad competing for a place against other more experienced Test and one-day players. “It’s a good headache to have,” McCullum said. “That’s what you want. You want that conversation, you don’t want to be scrambling around looking for talent.”

For our part, we can’t wait to see Edgbaston’s young big-hitter in action both for club and, hopefully, country in the coming season!