England batting all-rounder Jacob Bethell said his stint in the Indian Premier League (IPL) this year helped him deal with the pressure of making his Ashes debut at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, where England registered a four-wicket win in a two-day Test.
Bethell, 22, replaced Ollie Pope in the XI and played a composed knock of 40 as England chased down 175 to win the traditional Boxing Day Test, ending their 18-match winless streak in Tests in Australia. He was also part of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) squad that won IPL 2025 in Ahmedabad in June.
“I was pretty nervous — not so much because of the crowd, but because of the occasion. I’ve played in India where it feels like there are 160,000 people watching. The atmosphere here was incredible, and it was nice to get a win and contribute,” Bethell was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo.
“I only played two games in the IPL, but every match and every occasion counts. It’s about knowing what you can get out of yourself in those situations. 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 added.
Bethell also admitted he sees himself as a long-term contender for England’s No. 3 position in Tests, but conceded that he still has work to do to make the spot his own.
“I like batting at three. Sometimes you come in when the ball is new and doing a bit, but in other scenarios it presents opportunities to score when bowlers are attacking and there are plenty of gaps. It’s a double-edged sword, but I’m enjoying it,” he said.
“I’d like to nail down the role, but honestly, I’d be happy to secure any spot in the XI as long as I’m contributing to wins,” Bethell added.
(IANS)
