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The young cricketer is ready for England to throw me in the deep end” as he prepares to captain the side for the maiden occasion against Ireland on midweek, making him the nation’s most junior skipper in men’s cricket.

With Harry Brook rested for this fast-paced three-match Twenty20 series in a Dublin suburb, just north of Dublin, the 21-year-old steps in to extend his rapid ascent in international cricket. Bethell made his national team bow last September and shone in his first Test series against New Zealand at the close of the season. Still working to seal a permanent role in the red-ball XI, he has emerged as an automatic pick in the coach’s limited-overs sides.

“The coach called me up and said I was going to be skipper,” stated Bethell. “Very little has been said of why I’ve been selected for the position. I don’t know the precise rationale of those in charge. I suppose it’s maybe just a bit of trust, and demonstrating a support. It will be nice to see how I go under scrutiny, and I believe that the guys who made the decision would like to see that as well.”

“I enjoy when things come at a rapid speed, it tends to get me up and going. So I relish those moments, doesn’t mean they always work. But with luck this one will.”

Despite plenty of experienced names in the team to face the hosts, Bethell’s rise is in tune with the management’s daring tendencies when it involves selection. He will have to rely on his previous experience of captaining England Under-19s.

Approach of Leadership

“Inexperienced but eager,” replied a grinning Bethell when questioned what kind of leader he is. “The key aspect I’ve looked up to in captains I’ve had before is how they handle players. Not every strategic call you make is going to succeed, but it’s managing the boys well so they believe you’re supporting them. I have no set notions of how I’ll act.”

He has regained touch with the bat since he was named as skipper last four weeks, having scored his debut ton in the final one-dayer against the Proteas less than a two weeks ago. “I was out of action for a period and maybe lost a little bit of form, but found that flow come back about in the middle of the tournament so it’s great to be back feeling good.” He steered clear of any in-depth Ashes talk: “I’m firmly screwed on to this series.”

Rivals Challenges

Harry Tector and another experienced player “represent the main threats with the batting” for the opposition, said the skipper. The home side enter short on match practice having been inactive since June – a stark contrast to England – and will be without the sharp bowling of a key bowler, on the recovery from a side strain. However, the only finished T20 encounter between these two teams brought an win for Ireland in Melbourne at the World Cup three years ago, a warning that it might not prove all easy for Bethell over the coming days.