Though his versatility is an asset, the 27-year-old’s primary role is to score runs at number three. He averages 43 in that position since being given the job by captain Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum in 2022.
Still, he endured a mixed time last year with the bat. Although he made three hundreds, he ended 2024 with an average of 33.13, the lowest of any Test batter to have scored three tons in a calendar year.
On Wednesday, the day before the Zimbabwe Test, Stokes appeared to hint Bethell would come straight back into the team when he said: “Put two and two together, you probably know what’s going to happen.”
It was later clarified that Stokes was referring to Bethell’s return to the squad, rather than the team.
Pope said he not seen those particular comments from Stokes but had already spoken to the captain on the subject.
“The way Jacob played in New Zealand, he played really nicely,” added Pope.
“For me it’s trying to buy into the team as much as I can, trying to score as many runs as I can and do my job as the vice-captain.”
Opener Zak Crawley, another candidate to be replaced by Bethell, also made a century on the first day against Zimbabwe. A further option for England could be to alter the balance of their side, utilising Bethell’s left-arm spin in place of frontline off-spinner Shoaib Bashir.
