Jacob Bethell is relieved that England players don’t need to share rooms while on duty, as rooming with fellow England newcomer Dan Mousley at Warwickshire has tested their friendship.
Bethell, 20, revealed that his snoring has become a problem for Mousley, 23, who has threatened to find a new roommate. To resolve the issue, Bethell now tapes his mouth shut whenever they share a room.
The pair are two of five uncapped players selected for England's squad to face Australia this month, with a focus on building for the future. Bethell, who was still in school during England’s 2019 World Cup win, was making his second-team debut for Warwickshire on the same day that Eoin Morgan lifted the trophy at Lord’s.
Now, Bethell finds himself in the position of replacing some of those World Cup-winning players. Reflecting on his new role, he said it felt surreal to be surrounded by so many experienced cricketers during his first few training sessions.
Born and raised in Barbados, Bethell’s journey to representing England has been well-documented. His grandfather, Arthur, was a first-class cricketer for Barbados, and his father, Graham, played for the island’s youth teams. Bethell’s cricketing talent was discovered early, leading to a move to Rugby School in England at age 12 on a cricket scholarship.
Recalling a pivotal moment, Bethell shared how he was only supposed to watch an under-18s game during an Easter camp when a spot opened up at the last minute. Seizing the opportunity, he scored 50 runs and took four wickets, a performance that solidified his future in the sport.
Bethell also has the support of cricket legend Sir Garfield Sobers, a family friend who has provided advice both at home and on the golf course. Sobers, known for his psychological tactics, often chats with Bethell to disrupt his focus while they play, but Bethell humorously noted that his swing is a bit quicker than the legendary cricketer’s nowadays.
Despite high praise from coach Marcus Trescothick, who labelled Bethell a future “superstar,” his debut for England in the first T20 against Australia saw mixed results. His left-arm spin yielded 0-28 from three overs, while his batting stint ended with just two runs from six balls.
Bethell recalled the moment he learned of his selection: he was making breakfast when Trescothick called him with the news. Later, when Mousley sent him a message filled with excitement and exclamation marks, confirming his own selection, the reality of the moment truly set in.