England in New Zealand: Jacob Bethell’s sliding doors moment means a decision is coming

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England in New Zealand: Jacob Bethell’s sliding doors moment means a decision is coming

This is the man who turned up for his Test debut in Christchurch on a electric scooter. With the bleached hair, zinc smeared across the cheeks and collar turned up, he is perfectly at home in his surroundings.

“Pretty much every time I’ve played against better people, I’ve played better,” Bethell said after Christchurch. “The step up to the Hundred, played better. Straight into internationals, played better. I didn’t really have a doubt in my mind that coming into Test cricket that I’d have done well.”

How’s that for confidence?

Before we dish out 100 Test caps, Root’s run-scoring records and a knighthood, there are some caveats.

Both Bethell’s 37-ball 50 in Christchurch and 96 in Wellington were made in low-pressure situations. Last week it was the freedom of a modest run chase, on Saturday with the cushion of a 155-run first-innings lead.

He shaped up well in the first innings of both Tests, particularly in testing conditions in Christchurch, then got out. In Wellington there was a naivety to his dismissal. Nathan Smith telegraphed a short ball by dropping out deep square leg, yet Bethell still took on the pull and was caught down the leg side.

If that sounds like an impression of the Grinch, it is not meant to be. Bethell’s Wellington knock was wonderful, full vindication of England’s faith and proof he belongs at this level.

Compact, calm and correct, there is a hint of Andrew Strauss in Bethell’s set-up. It is the stance, shuffle across the crease and bend of the front knee into the ball. That is where the comparisons end. Strauss would have killed for Bethell’s range of strokes.

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