Jacob Bethell will walk out for the toss in Malahide on Wednesday as England’s youngest-ever men’s captain, a mere 21 years and a handful of days old. The record he breaks dates back to 1889, which says plenty about how rarely England gamble on youth in leadership roles. He only made his international debut 12 months ago and already has 34 caps, nine fifties and a maiden hundred to his name.
“I like it when things come at a fast pace,” Bethell said, smiling in the way anyone who has watched him knows so well. The elevation arrived by phone last month, Brendon McCullum passing on the news. “When I found out, the first emotion was pride,” he recalled. “The feeling is excitement [with] a few nerves kicking around, both from wanting to lead the boys well, and get a win under our belt.”
Harry Brook, the usual white-ball captain, is resting after a busy summer, and England’s management saw little sense in reverting to Jos Buttler for a low-key, end-of-season trip. Phil Salt, who deputised against Australia a year ago, may feel unlucky, but the coaches clearly view Bethell as more than a short-term fix.
Asked why he thought he was chosen, Bethell was candid: “It’s maybe just a bit of trust. Another aspect might be, just chuck me in the deep end and see how I go. It will be nice to see how I go under pressure – I’m sure the guys that have made those decisions would like to see that as well.” Those at Warwickshire and with England Under-19s have long pushed him forward, seeing the maturity that comes from leaving Barbados to board at Rugby School before signing a county deal as a teenager.
This week he will direct a side featuring two double World Cup winners. Buttler and Adil Rashid possess more caps than the rest of the squad combined, yet they are happy to play the supporting role. Bethell joked when pressed on his style: “A very young one.” He believes the crucial part of the job is “managing people” alongside stand-in head coach Marcus Trescothick, whose easy manner should suit a green captain finding his voice.
Across the presentation table on Tuesday stood Paul Stirling, 35 years old and sitting on more than 150 T20 internationals. The pair opened together for Warwickshire in the Blast three summers ago, Stirling struck then by the teenager’s clean ball-striking. “He was a superstar,” Stirling said. “You could see the talent there when he must’ve been 18 years old. His ball-striking was so noticeable that it was world-class already. To see where he’s got to already in his career is no surprise to me… I know how talented he is, and I’m not surprised at all that he’s here under a leadership capacity.”
England expect a lively surface and a well-drilled Ireland, but results are only part of the brief; they want to see how Bethell copes. He has captained school teams, seven Under-19 matches and the odd second-team fixture, yet nothing comes close to calling upon Buttler to bowl Rashid in front of a television audience. Friends say he is calm and enjoys problem-solving, which bodes well in T20, where plans change by the over.
There are tactical questions. Does he shuffle his own batting position? He has opened for club and country but might drop to three to steady the middle. Does he risk the new ball with Rashid if conditions suit? Older captains have hesitated; Bethell might see freedom where senior colleagues saw risk.
The wider picture matters too. England’s white-ball side is nearing a transition. Several of the 2019 vintage are nearing retirement, and the administration is keen to blood long-term leaders early. If Bethell copes this week, further opportunities beckon, perhaps on next year’s Caribbean tour when schedules again clash with franchise commitments.
For now, he deals in the here and now. Practice was sharp, spirits light. “It’s basically a blank canvas,” one coach observed, “and he’s got the paint.” That is modern England: trust the talent, see what happens. Bethell, still grinning, seems ready to find out.
