• Home
  • Player Stories
  • You Are Better Than I Was When Brian Lara Became Fan Of 11 Year Old Jacob Bethell

"You Are Better Than I Was…": When Brian Lara Became Fan Of 11-Year-Old Jacob Bethell

Jatin

Brian Lara and Jacob Bethell [Source: @CricCrazyJohns, @bet_helll/x.com]Brian Lara and Jacob Bethell [Source: @CricCrazyJohns, @bet_helll/x.com]

Jacob Bethell might still be finding his feet in Test cricket but those who have seen him from up close have known for a while, this lad is built different. One of them? Brian Charles Lara himself.

Yes, that Brian Lara. The man with a 400* to his name. The Caribbean legend once laid eyes on a young Bethell and dropped a massive statement.

Lara’s Big Words For A Young Talent

Back when Jacob Bethell was just a kid with big dreams and a heavy bat, Lara spotted him and said as quoted by BBC:

"You are better than I was when I was 11."

Now, that’s not something you hear every day. Coming from Lara, a man who has played bowling attacks for breakfast, this wasn’t just praise. It was prophecy.

From The Caribbean To England’s XI

Bethell, born in Barbados, now wears England colours. And in the ongoing final Test of the five-match series at The Oval, he was one of four changes England made to their side. He walked in not just as a batter but as the team’s only frontline spinner, a big ask for a 21-year-old still working his way into the red-ball game.

In the first innings, Bethell bowled just two overs and scored only 6 with the bat. But Test cricket isn’t about instant fireworks, it’s about patience and finding your moment.

Holding Fort With Root At The Other End

As of Tea on Day 4, England are 317/4, chasing 374 to win. Joe Root is inching towards a classy ton on 98*, while Bethell is quietly hanging in at 1* off 11 balls.

This may not be his breakout knock, but just the fact that he is in the middle when the series is on the line says a lot. Sometimes, the best way to learn is to be in the thick of it.

Meanwhile, Bethell has mostly been part of England’s white-ball circuit this year. He made an impression in the New Zealand tour last year but has had just one first-class outing this summer. Still, he remains one of England’s brightest prospects, someone who can spin it, strike it and stay calm under pressure.