Garfield Sobers embarked on his illustrious West Indies career in Jamaica in 1954 at the tender age of 17, batting at No. 9, while Steve Smith made his mark for Australia 14 years ago as a dynamic leg-spinner at No. 8. Fast forward to last week, and Jacob Bethell, 21, mirroring Smith's Lord's debut, strode out as England's No. 3, with Matt Henry and Tim Southee testing him with a Kookaburra under overcast skies. For a player with a first-class average of 25, who had rarely batted above No. 4 for Warwickshire, it might have seemed like a surreal dream.

Yet, Bethell exudes a certain confidence. Despite his youthful appearance and a haircut reminiscent of Happy Gilmore's caddy, he appears unfazed by the rapid ascent that saw him make his third international debut in just 11 weeks, contributing to England's eight-wicket victory at Hagley Oval. When asked if he had any doubts, Bethell replied, 'Nah, not at all really. Every time I've played against better players, I've performed better. The step up to The Hundred? Played better. Straight into internationals? Played better. I had no doubt I'd do well in Test cricket.'

Was it a surprise to be slotted at No. 3 in a reshuffle that saw Ollie Pope don the gloves and move to No. 6? 'No,' he shrugged. 'Maybe a surprise on one level, but I would have asked for it honestly. I enjoy batting up the order. So yeah, I was really happy the opportunity arose.'

It was everything he had ever dreamed of. 'Ever since I was a little kid, I've always dreamed of playing Test cricket. I remember watching the 2010/11 Ashes and wanting to be a part of it. Since Baz [Brendon McCullum] took over, I've watched on TV and thought, 'how fun does that look?' and it lived up to the expectation.'

Bethell's confidence is not just bravado; it's backed by a solid backfoot game honed in his native Barbados. 'I didn't really get a lot in my half until I was about 16 or 17 and I got a bit bigger,' he explained, his accent a blend of Bridgetown and Birmingham.

A standout moment during the run chase was his takedown of Nathan Smith – pulling and hooking the debutant for 16 runs in a single over, then sealing it with a powerful hook onto the grass bank. It showcased the power he has developed, now just a decision whether to keep the ball down or hit it for six.

However, it was his first-innings 10 from 33 balls, coming in at 9 for 1 in the fourth over, that impressed Ben Stokes more. Bethell's stroll to square leg to reset himself between deliveries caught his captain's eye; reminiscent of another Warwickshire No. 3, Jonathan Trott, even if the style differs thereafter.

The flexibility of being a spin-bowling all-rounder means Bethell has struggled for a defined red-ball role at Edgbaston since his first-class debut in 2021. When asked why, he cryptically replied, 'Ah, we're not going into that.'

Bethell is deeply connected to Warwickshire, having been associated with the club since he moved to England at 13 on a scholarship at Rugby School. Garfield Sobers, a close family friend back in Barbados, gave his blessing to the switch at the time. Once the great man was on board, there was no looking back.

Warwickshire may not see Bethell for a while, with his recent rise including a £256,000 contract to play for Royal Challengers Bangalore in next season's Indian Premier League. This will keep him away for the first seven rounds of the County Championship, after which the international summer begins.

'I think it will do a lot for me,' said Bethell, before being asked who he is looking forward to playing alongside. 'It's a bit of a given, isn't it!? Virat Kohli. He's a great of the game - King Kohli. Any young overseas player who has gone over has come back with a wealth of experience.'

Perhaps the question should be: is Kohli looking forward to playing alongside Jacob Bethell?

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