Jacob Bethell was not included in the squad for the Test against Zimbabwe due to his IPL commitments with Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB). Bethell impressed during his debut series in New Zealand earlier this year. The southpaw scored three half-centuries while batting at No. 3 in England’s 2-1 series win.
“My own view is that Bethell should have been picked. That’s the point of a central contract—you’ve got control over your players,” Atherton stated.
"It's a Test match. It's an international fixture and international fixtures should have priority over domestic franchise competition. I know the policy is players should see through their IPL deals but I don't particularly agree with it," he added.
They Are Probably Happy Not to Have the Difficult Call - Michael Atherton
"In many ways, it saved the selectors from a very difficult call. Bethell looked to the manner born in New Zealand but then they would have had the tricky decision as Smith obviously comes back," Atherton stated.
Indian Premier League Suspended for At Least a Week Amid Tensions
With the Indian Premier League suspended for at least a week amid escalating border tensions, there may be an opportunity for the ECB to recall Bethell for the upcoming Test against Zimbabwe. However, it remains uncertain whether the ECB will take any action to bring him back.
The Somerset wicketkeeper-batter, who has hit 10 first-class centuries, is the youngest Englishman to reach that milestone since Denis Compton in 1939. Meanwhile, the omission of Bethell feels notable, especially with Zak Crawley’s inconsistency and Ollie Pope under pressure, despite Jamie Smith’s return.
Also read: South Africa and Australia release official statements on their players' safety amid India-Pakistan war
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