SHA Small Heath Alliance

Phenomenal effort. England were behind for 95% of that game. Well earned win

Great innings that. He took full advantage of Bishnoi's troubles.

Brilliant wasn’t it - I thought he was hiding io the non-striker’s but came to life when needed

He's an absolute world class player in the making. Incredible knock today. A few months after his century in the world T20 semi final. And a few months after his 150 in an away Ashes test.

He got some criticism in the recent test series which I didn't quite get. He's our next all format star, and we need to back him

He's not getting enough runs in red ball cricket, though.

He may well be one of those players that end up being a white ball specialist, like Eoin Morgan for example....and there's nothing wrong with that.

He averages 9 in red ball first innings and 70 + in second innigs which is quite
strange but I'd back him and include him in our 3 test starting 11's v Pakistan at Headingly, Lords and Edgbaston next month and September..

I profoundly disagree. If he becomes a limited overs specialist that will be a huge waste of talent.

Fat Buddha OBE

I profoundly disagree. If he becomes a limited overs specialist that will be a huge waste of talent.

I hope you're right. It isn't really my opinion, just that it may happen to him over time.

Needs more runs though.

generalBlue

He averages 9 in red ball first innings and 70 + in second innigs which is quite
strange but I'd back him and include him in our 3 test starting 11's v Pakistan at Headingly, Lords and Edgbaston next month and September..

Oh, so would I....but as you say he's very inconsistent.

Let's hope he can get some first innings runs.

I think that's a fair worry, he's probably been parachuted in 12-18 months early. And he reminds me a lot of Morgan too the way he sets up, but his defence looks a bit more solid to me.

I would say he's had a bit of bad luck - he's only played 9 tests, two of which were minefields which will deflate the average a bit (recent minefield at Lords, and the two day Ashes test in Melbourne)

He's averaging 40 if you exclude those tests, which isn't bad considering he's only played against Australia, India, and New Zealand. Ollie Pope got to stat-pad against the Windows, Ireland, and Zimbabwe, so I think we need to give Bethell a bit longer before casting judgement

plus he's 22 and won't be anywhere near his peak yet, the more he plays the better he'll get

His test average is 34 so far anyway. Not the worst start. I read somewhere that he’s only the 4th player to get 100’s in all formats.