Kevin Pietersen criticised Sir Alastair Cook for advising Jacob Bethell to leave the IPL due to lack of game time. Cook had advised Bethell to return to county cricket with Warwickshire rather than sit on the bench at the IPL. Bethell, who earns around £250,000 from his IPL deal, has not played in any of Royal Challengers Bengaluru's first six IPL matches.
Despite his IPL inactivity, Bethell has enjoyed recent success, scoring a century in the final Ashes Test at Sydney in January and 105 in the T20 World Cup semi-final against India in March. Royal Challengers Bengaluru have preferred Phil Salt, Tim David, Romario Shepherd, and Josh Hazlewood as overseas picks over Bethell.
Cook has absolutely no idea what it's like to be in the IPL. What's it's like to always be around the best players in the world. So his opinion on Jacob Bethell doesn't matter at all. Stay in India, Jacob. I know, even though you're not playing, you're learning and will be a way better player.
Cook believes Bethell could open for England in Test cricket, but has ruled himself out of becoming England's national selector.
Bethell's situation echoes that of Ben Duckett, who recently pulled out of an IPL contract with Delhi Capitals to play county cricket for Nottinghamshire. However, Bethell has not indicated he will follow suit.
I don't think there's a right or wrong way to do it. I think we've seen last year, for me personally, that by not playing cricket for a little while, I came into the end of that India series a bit undercooked, which was a learning for me to take on board. But actually, if you look at where I was last year after coming back from the IPL, I was flying, going into that West Indies series and I feel in a similar position now. I feel better now than I was a month ago after the World Cup, through just getting time around the guys over here and the pure standard of cricket in India and the IPL. It's something that not many people will understand how cool it is until actually being around a team or the tournament itself when you're here. It just has a completely different feel. It feels like everyone almost ups their game subconsciously without even really knowing because of the calibre of the tournament. I feel like that even happens when you're not on the starting XI or even starting XII as it might be now with the impact player.
Bethell discussed his situation on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast. He said he feels better now than a month ago after the World Cup, due to time around the IPL. He also said he prefers to bat at number three but would do whatever the team asks.
It remains unclear whether Bethell will seek an early exit from his IPL contract to play county cricket, or how his lack of game time will affect his selection for the first Test against New Zealand. The exact nature of the agreement between the ECB and IPL regarding player availability is also unknown.
I’d love to stay at three, if it’s up to me. I really like the position.
For that top order batting, the way he played at Sydney, against that attack, in those conditions…I’ve looked at a player there and I’m certain this bloke can open. If he can bat three, he can open. (But) it’s not ideal, is it? Bethell shouldn’t really be it because he’s not opening. He’s sitting on his arse at the IPL not doing anything. Ideally he could come back and open for Warwickshire to help England.
I am categorically not going to be a selector for England. To be the chairman of selectors, you need to be a really good figurehead because you need to be able to speak to the media and the fans very well to explain decisions. They’ve also got to be able to stand up to (captain) Ben Stokes and (head coach) Baz McCullum and give an alternative view. At certain times, you’ve looked at a side and gone ‘actually, I’m not sure that’s right.’ Stokes and Baz have been able to push their way through.