Sachin Tendulkar played at 16! Ex-England cricketer on Jacob Bethell becoming captain at 22; slams country for 'conservative' mindset

Jacob Bethell’s elevation as England’s stand-in captain for the upcoming T20I series against Ireland has sparked debate, but former England international believes the criticism is unfair and stems from outdated thinking. England will play three T20Is in Dublin from September 17 without several first-choice players, including regular captain Harry Brook, who is being rested ahead of the Ashes. Bethell, who turns 22 in October, will step in as skipper and in doing so become England’s youngest-ever international captain, surpassing Monty Bowden’s 1889 record at age 23.

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Responding to doubts over Bethell’s experience, the former player pushed back strongly against the narrative.

“Spain played a 16-year-old (Lamine Yamal) in the European Cup Final, you know, like Luke Littler won the World Championship of Darts at 17. You know, Jacob Bethel's 22,” (turns 22 in two months) he said. He argued that English cricket has long been too rigid about age and experience when it comes to promoting talent. “I find the whole thing fascinating really, the Jacob Bethel debate about the amount of cricket he plays.

And I've sort of grown up like you guys have. I always felt, watching or looking at English cricket, English sport at times, that we're unbelievably conservative—you know, like we have to have played so many red-ball games before you can play for England.” The ex-cricketer drew comparisons with international greats who broke through early. “That’s not necessarily the truth when you look at other countries. When you look at someone like David Warner, he played a handful of games before he went and played.

Steve Waugh had played something like nine games before he played for Australia. Shane Warne played four games. Sachin (Tendulkar) himself, one of the greatest players, played at 16 and had hardly played any first-class cricket.

”

Emphasising faith in talent over tradition, he added: “I just think it's an English thing where we believe you can't play unless you've served your time and done it. But I tend to think if you're supremely talented, like some players are—and some players need a longer route to get there—you get them in as soon as you can and let them try and thrive in that environment.”