Bethell feeling ‘refreshed’ after posting First Class best

It's rare for a player who is less than a 100 not out to do a post-day media interview.

Usually it’s the Captain, or another dismissed batter, a perfect speaker to talk conditions, the wicket and state of the game.

So there were a few eyebrows raised when Jacob Bethell, nominated by his Captain Alex Davies, walked through the interview door on day three against Nottinghamshire.

Bethell on 38 not out (84 balls) had batted brilliantly under dark skies to see his side 175/5 in reply to the visitors’ 400 all out. In what may seem a modest total, the 20-year-old, alongside Ed Barnard (69), had thwarted the visitor’s chances of victory after two sessions were lost due to rain.

Speaking he said: “It was a good day for us. After sitting in the pavilion all day it could easily have been the kind of day where we lost a few poles so it was a good effort to lose only two.

“I have not really had a chance to get into the season myself so this knock has been quite nice to get some time in the middle and kick-start my season.” 

Kick-start his season it did. Returning in nicer skies, Bethell showed his class, striking 15 fours in 163 balls to reach a First Class career best of 93.

And while he hinted at some frustration at not reaching three figure, he’s pleased to have contributed after a strange three weeks of the season.

“I’m chuffed to get a career best and a career best for the Bears as my last one was with Gloucestershire,” joked Bethell after the match.

“I’m obviously disappointed to have fallen short of the big milestone, but it’s nice to make an impact and contribute to the Bears in red ball cricket.

“We had the brunt of the conditions with it being overcast for the majority of time we batted, so it’s helpful to have a spell where we’ve lost a few wickets.

“It sounds strange, but our top order has been so good this season, so for lads like me and Michael Burgess, we’ve been able to get some time in the middle and get that confidence from scoring runs.

“We’ve taken a lot from this game, we’ve took some punches, but thrown some as well.”

With Alex Davies (481 runs), Will Rhodes (357) and Rob Yates (381) doing the brunt of the batting, Bethell has had to remain patient and he testaments that ability to the hard work he’s done over the winter.

The left-handed spinner spent the colder months at Edgbaston, having previously played for England U19s and Lions, as well as club cricket in Sydney.

“It’s made a huge difference,” said Bethell. “I definitely needed a reset with both the body and the mind. I’ve done a lot of work physically, mentally and technically on my game so those four months indoors has really helped.

“It has been weird, but I’ve just been telling myself that I’ve done the work and taken confidence from that. It’s not often you’re quiet in a game, especially as I’ve got the bowling and the batting, so not to pick up a bat for a whole game against Durham was weird.

“The run out against Worcestershire was annoying, and I got some time against Hampshire, but I didn’t kick on. It’s feels nice to get some runs here. I feel refreshed and hopefully we’ll go onto bigger things.”