\n<\/p>\n
Bethell’s knocks this winter, from Southampton to Sydney and then a Mumbai semi-final, have shown variety akin to Freddie Mercury’s vocal range.<\/p>\n
His first Test hundred in the fifth Ashes Test was an old-school epic – 154 runs compiled across six hours of batting. <\/p>\n
He clipped and pulled, drove and cut, with shots from the oldest textbook.<\/p>\n
But Bethell’s 105 from 48 balls against India, which kept England’s attempt at a record chase going right to the final over, was more reflective of the modern world. <\/p>\n
It reflected a man with bleached blonde curls who left home in Barbados as a teenager to pursue his dreams in England. A player who was signed up by one of the world’s biggest T20 franchises before his international place was secure.<\/p>\n
“They’re not comparable, really,” Bethell said of his two hundreds.<\/p>\n
“The skills and mental thinking are different but both feelings are pretty good. <\/p>\n
“But both of them have come in losing causes, which is a weird feeling.”<\/p>\n
On Thursday, Bethell cracked a switch hit off Varun Chakravarthy, played a delicate reverse scoop off Hardik Pandya and, with flowing hands and flashing wrists, stroked the ball to all parts.<\/p>\n
He did not deserve to be run out in the final over, face down in the dirt. When he slumped off, even the India supporters rose to their feet to applaud.<\/p>\n
Bethell’s performances have vindicated England’s decision to pluck him from relative obscurity. He had played only 20 first-class matches when given a Test debut in New Zealand in 2024. <\/p>\n
Regarded as calm beyond his years even then, his nerveless mentality and clear thinking were on show yet again in the febrile atmosphere of the Wankhede Stadium. <\/p>\n
Between deliveries he wandered to the leg side to steady himself before reengaging with the task at hand.<\/p>\n
“Some guys like to keep going and keep staying and face the next ball as quick as possible but I like two to five seconds of clarity, give myself a smack on the pad,” he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n
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