Young English all-rounder Jacob Bethell credits his recent Indian Premier League (IPL) experience with bolstering his confidence for a crucial Ashes debut at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). The 22-year-old played a vital role, scoring a composed 40 runs to help England successfully chase down 175 in a thrilling two-day match, ultimately ending Australia’s dominant streak in Test cricket. Bethell, who was part of the victorious Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) squad in IPL 2025, found the deafening roar of Indian crowds surprisingly prepared him for the MCG’s atmosphere.
“I was pretty nervous. Not so much with the people, just the occasion, I guess. But I’ve played over in India where it feels like there’s 160,000 people watching,” Bethell shared. “This atmosphere was incredible and it was nice to get a win and contribute.” He explained that even though he only played two IPL games, the intensity of every match provided invaluable lessons. “Definitely, just knowing what I’m able to get out of myself when the situation is like that and when the atmosphere is like that. I definitely had a lot more confidence coming into this game after playing in front of, I don’t know, 50,000 – which felt like 100,000 – at the Chinnaswamy,” he remarked.
Bethell also discussed his aspirations for England’s number three Test batting position. While he enjoys the challenges and opportunities that come with batting at first drop, he acknowledged the need to consistently perform to secure the role long-term. “I like three. You come in when the ball is new and in some scenarios the ball’s going all over the shop. But in other scenarios it presents opportunities to score when bowlers are trying to take wickets and the field is attacking there’s loads of gaps. So it’s a double-edged sword but I’m enjoying it. I would like to (nail down the role). I would like to just nail down any role in the team to be honest. If you’re in the XI and contributing to winning I’m pretty happy with that.”
