It’s why when assessing the squad for the upcoming one-day series against the West Indies, the dropping of Phil Salt and inclusion of Jacob Bethell jumps off the page.
Yet the absence of Salt, whose diminishing top-order returns in ODI cricket over the winter cost him his place, makes it highly likely England now see Bethell as a viable opening option in 50-over cricket.
Jacob Bethell in action for Royal Challengers Bengaluru (Photo: Reuters)
Bethell, who is expected to return from the IPL for the West Indies ODIs, might still be a rival to Pope ahead of the five-Test series against India later this summer.
In Salt’s absence, the two contenders in England’s ODI squad to partner Ben Duckett at the top of the order against the Windies are Bethell and Tom Banton.
After all, they took a huge risk playing him at three in New Zealand – one place higher than he had ever batted in first-class cricket for Warwickshire – and that gamble paid off spectacularly as he struck three half-centuries in the series, including one knock of 96.
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Facing a fine New Zealand attack that Crawley was only able to average 8.66 against, Bethell looked eminently comfortable – no mean feat given he walked out to bat before the end of the fifth over in all six innings.
Now, he looks likely to get a chance to audition for the real thing in the three one-dayers against the West Indies as England look to keep their options open – both in terms of that potential opening spot and No 3 – ahead of two huge series against India and the Ashes in Australia this winter.
Pope, whose form suffered when he deputised as captain for the injured Ben Stokes in last summer’s series against Sri Lanka, has credit in the bank.
But his recent form – a Test average of 27.50 since the start of that Sri Lanka series and two 50-plus scores in seven innings for Surrey this summer – means he is under pressure.
Both will be under pressure against Zimbabwe. If either fails, Bethell will be primed to step in.
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That is because he is likely to be playing for England Lions in a four-day match against India A at Northampton.
If he can get through this match without incident and perhaps play Sussex’s County Championship match at Durham, starting on 22 June, he could return for the second Test against India at Edgbaston.
His form holds up to scrutiny and despite his age, the spinning all-rounder is being given a shot to stake a claim for a place in England’s squad for the next T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka that starts in February.
In a word, no. You can never say never but a player who captained England in the West Indies last November looks done at international level after failing consistently with bat and ball during the second leg of the winter in India and Pakistan.
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