"I’m hoping I don’t get booed too much as I’ve seen Steve Smith in his last few games" - Jacob Bethell on returning to Barbados as an England player
The Barbados-born Jacob Bethell was recently named in England's squad for the white-ball tour of the West Indies, scheduled for the October-November window. The all-rounder spent the first 12 years of his life in the Caribbean before moving to Warwickshire, eventually going on to make his debut for England.
Bethell is a part of England's new-look white-ball side and was selected for the limited-over series against Australia after his heroics in the Hundred 2024 for the Birmingham Phoenix. He featured in the entire tour, and proved to be a handy addition in the lower order for the team, leading to his retention in the squad.
The left-handed player will feature in his birthplace as England are scheduled to play the final ODI, and the first two T20Is at the Kensington Oval in Barbados. The England squad also features features another player who is quite familiar with Barbados, in the form of Jofra Archer. The speedster had played at the venue during England's recent 2024 T20 World Cup campaign.
“Yeah definitely, that’s where my heritage is so all my friends have already bought tickets, they’ll be in the stands waiting for me when I get there. I’m slightly worried about how the West Indian fans are going to accept me so I’m hoping I don’t get booed too much as I’ve seen Steve Smith in his last few games and every time he walks out to bat it’s like the end of the world. I’m hoping that’s not the case in the West Indies," Bethell told The Telegraph on the sidelines of the Professional Cricketers' Association awards.
“I’m only joking, there’s a whole lot of support coming around so I can’t imagine it’s going to be anything but that," he added.
Bethell was nominated for the Young Player of the Year award during the ceremony, but lost out to his teammate, Jamie Smith, who had an unforgettable summer.
"A hundred percent" - Jacob Bethell on his Test cricket aspirations
Bethell made his ODI and T20I debut during the home series against Australia, and is on the lookout for more. He failed to make it for the Pakistan Test tour even with his spin bowling credentials, but is not giving up on the red-ball dream with age well on his side.
"A hundred per cent yeah [I would like to play Test cricket]. It’s nice to tick off two of them but definitely the best one is yet to come hopefully. Test cricket has always been my dream and I know it’s taken a different shape in the last three years but definitely that’s still my dream, to play Test cricket for England," Bethell said.
The all-rounder has played 20 first-class matches since his debut in 2021. He has scored 738 runs at an average of 25.44, and has taken seven wickets as well.