New Zealand vs England, 1st Test: Ben Stokes on Jacob Bethell selection: ‘We’re not doing it just to cheer people up’

With no intention of moving Joe Root one place from No. 4, it means Bethell, in just his 21st first-class appearance, will be placed at first drop for the first time in his career. A tough question for anyone unfamiliar with the role, let alone a 21-year-old without a career century who averages just 25.44 in red-ball cricket. The majority of his runs for Warwickshire have come in the middle order.

“We didn’t want to make it too complicated,” Stokes said. “There was another way of thinking: If we hit first, Popey can hit three. But again, it was too many moving parts.

“We just wanted to keep it simple where we had the batting order, and everyone knows what they’re doing during the week. Fair play to Popey for stepping up and playing a role he’s played before, but obviously it’s something he doesn’t do.” I’m very used to it.

“Bethell’s arrival gives him a chance to move up the order, rather than just leaking out and not being able to impose himself on the game.”

Bethell only joined the team in New Zealand on Sunday, having had time off following the white-ball tour of the West Indies, meaning he missed the weekend’s warm-up match against the Prime Minister’s XI. On Tuesday, he was Stokes’ partner on the golf course; a coincidence, since the couples are chosen at random. Although they were defeated by James Anderson and Zak Crawley, Stokes valued the face time with the precocious youngster. “He’s an incredibly talented kid. I think when you look at someone like Jacob, you can see the ceiling he has.”

Bethell has impressed in flashes, and selectors were encouraged by his composure in the Caribbean, having been capped in both white-ball formats against Australia in late summer 2024. On Monday, he secured a £245,000 contract with the Royal Challengers Bangalore for their first IPL. But with just five half-centuries in 30 first-class innings, he remains a work in progress.

Stokes doesn’t consider Bethell a punter, but accepts that observers will question his promotion given his modest record so far. Stokes asked for patience and understanding that this is more than just a shot in the dark.

“I mean, you can totally understand it,” Stokes responded when asked if he could understand why there is concern over Bethell’s place in the XI. “But you have to be true to yourself when you have the opportunity to make decisions.

“We’ve always done what we think is right for the team. It’s gone quite a bit in our favor. So I think we know what we’re doing. There’s thought and process to get it done, even if it makes some people surprised. We don’t choose to people just to encourage them.

“People may not fully understand it, but that’s how Baz and I have operated for a long period of time. And we have a pretty good understanding, and I have insight and a good eye for choosing players to fill a role if we need them. .

“He’s an incredibly talented kid. I think when you look at someone like Jacob, you can see the ceiling he has. I remember watching the one-day series. I think it was [Josh] Hazlewood; He bowled a full ball at him and took a hit on the front foot, and then they tested him, right there, and then he hit him.

“Just those little things where you see there’s something very special there. I’m looking forward to getting it going this week.”