Jacob Bethell will steer Birmingham Phoenix’s men this summer, taking the armband from Liam Livingstone, who has switched to London Spirit.
The 22-year-old all-rounder already owns an unusual slice of England history, having become the national side’s youngest men’s captain last September when he guided a second-string team to a 2-0 T20I win in Ireland. That brief but successful stint – he joked England wanted to “chuck me in the deep end” – clearly impressed Phoenix. The franchise pre-signed him for £340,000 before Thursday’s draft and confirmed on Monday that he will lead the men’s group.
“I’m incredibly proud to be named captain of the Birmingham Phoenix,” Bethell said. “Leading this team is a huge honour, and it’s an opportunity I’m ready for, especially after the experience of captaining England last year. That responsibility taught me a lot about my own leadership and how to bring the best out of a group.”
Shane Bond, replacing Daniel Vettori as head coach, sounded equally confident. “Jacob is an outstanding young leader who has already shown maturity beyond his years. His experience captaining England last year demonstrated his tactical awareness and composure, as well as the ability to inspire those around him,” Bond said.
Phoenix supporters have watched Bethell’s rapid progress over a busy winter. Acting as Harry Brook’s vice-captain, he featured in white-ball series in New Zealand and Sri Lanka and at the T20 World Cup. On the field he has ticked off a trio of hundreds – at the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney, again against Australia, and in the World Cup semi-final versus India – making him the youngest England player with centuries in all three international formats.
Those feats explain why Phoenix feel comfortable handing him the reins. Still, captaincy in the Hundred carries its own quirks: 100-ball tactics, short sets of five-ball overs, and a condensed schedule that leaves little room for error. Bethell’s ability to read the game quickly will be tested.
Phoenix women will stay under familiar leadership, with Australia’s Ellyse Perry continuing into a third season. “I’m really honoured to captain Birmingham Phoenix Women again,” Perry said. “Edgbaston is a special place to play cricket, and I’m looking forward to leading what we’re hoping will be a young and exciting squad of players who can play an eye-catching brand of cricket.”
The men’s and women’s squads will be finalised after Thursday’s auction. For now, Phoenix have bet on youth and recent evidence suggests it’s a sound punt – even if the next few months will reveal just how steep Bethell’s learning curve remains.
