Stokes Addresses Bethell’s Controversial Batting Position for England Debut

England captain Ben Stokes, who will lead the team against New Zealand in Christchurch, his birthplace, acknowledged that the choice to position Jacob Bethell at number three “does raise a few eyebrows”. However, Stokes affirmed that “we’re not picking people just to wind people up.” The 21-year-old Bethell is set to make his Test debut in the inaugural match of the series against New Zealand in Christchurch, scheduled for Thursday (22:00 GMT, Wednesday). The left-handed batsman from Warwickshire has not scored a century in senior professional cricket and has not batted above number four in any of his 20 first-class appearances. When questioned regarding the possibility of Bethell’s selection polarizing fan sentiment, Stokes stated: “You can totally understand it, but you’ve got to be true to yourself when you get given the opportunity to be able to make decisions.” He continued, “We’ve always done what we feel is right for the team. It’s gone in our favour quite a lot, so I think we do know what we’re doing.” Stokes reiterated, “We’re not picking people just to wind people up. We do know what we’re doing. We do know what we look for, and when you’re in a position to make decisions you’ve got to do it by your standards and your means.” During an extensive discussion with reporters in his hometown, Stokes elaborated on the rationale behind Bethell’s selection at number three, recounted his personal difficulties during the recent tour of Pakistan, and detailed how he surprised his family in Christchurch. Bethell is considered among the most promising talents in English cricket, having made a positive impression in his 15 international white-ball matches. Despite his limited experience and moderate first-class statistics, the Warwickshire player’s inclusion for this tour was unexpected. Originally designated as a reserve batter, Bethell will now debut in Tests following wicketkeeper Jordan Cox’s withdrawal due to a broken thumb. Ollie Pope is set to assume wicketkeeping duties and will move from his usual number three batting slot to number six to alleviate his workload. While England had the option to promote Joe Root or Stokes himself in the batting order, Stokes indicated that the touring side “didn’t want to make it too messy.” England has consistently made unexpected selection choices since Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum assumed leadership, such as pace bowler Josh Hull’s Test debut in September after just 10 first-class games. However, the decision regarding Bethell is considered the most audacious. Stokes, who played golf with Bethell on Monday, commented: “Beth’s got the capability to be able to go out there, bat three and hopefully impact the game, like he has done throughout the summer in the white-ball team.” Stokes added, regarding their golf pairings: “We use a little wheel to make our golf groups,” and “It was almost like the wheel knew – I was paired with him.” Following his return from Pakistan, where England suffered a 2-1 series loss, Stokes disclosed via social media that his residence was burgled by a gang during the second Test, while his wife Clare and their two children were present. A 32-year-old individual has since been apprehended. When questioned about whether he contemplated departing the tour, Stokes responded: “I did actually. It was my wife who told me not to. I always tell the lads that kind of stuff comes first. I asked my wife and she was adamant that I needed to stay out there.” Regarding his on-field performance, Stokes described the Pakistan tour as one of his “hardest” experiences. Recovering from a hamstring injury, the all-rounder was absent from the first Test and subsequently faced difficulties in the remaining two matches. He offered an apology to the team after displaying frustration over dropped catches during the second Test and was unusually dismissed leg before wicket without playing a shot in the third Test’s second innings. Following these events, McCullum stated that England needed to “wrap our arms” around Stokes. Stokes remarked: “I got so individually focused on myself over a long period of time trying to get back from injury, I actually I did physically drain and ruin myself,” adding, “That definitely had some kind of mental impact on me.” He further explained: “It’s made me realise that I can’t take myself into that sort of area ever again, because not only does it have an impact on myself, but also has a massive impact on the team.” Stokes observed: “There’s no doubt that my frustration was showing when things weren’t quite going our way. Everyone’s sort of treading on eggshells around you, because they can sense it.” The captain mentioned that he “cleared the air” with his players upon their arrival in Queenstown last week to prepare for the upcoming series. Stokes had journeyed to New Zealand ahead of the England team to surprise family members residing in Christchurch. Born in Christchurch in 1991, Stokes relocated to Wellington at age 10, then to Cumbria at 12 when his father, Ged, secured a position as a rugby league coach. Ged passed away in 2020, but Stokes’ mother, Deb, and brother, James, continue to live in Christchurch. “This tour is more than just cricket for me,” Stokes stated. “It’s a chance to catch up with family who I don’t get to see. You know, pretty much the whole of the Stokes family is in Christchurch.”