English cricket loves a good selection headache, and right now, the top order is giving everyone a proper migraine. Now, Stuart Broad has waded into the debate surrounding Jordan Cox and Jacob Bethell.
What Did Stuart Broad Say About the Jordan Cox vs Jacob Bethell Debate?
Broad, appearing on his YT channel “For The Love Of Cricket,” pointed out that England’s Test team desperately needs a bit of character to weather pressure moments when the opposition gets on top. Cox provides that.
Yet, it leaves a headache for the new leadership of Joe Root and Stephen Fleming. Does Bethell walk straight back into his favoured spot when he’s fit and fresh? Broad thinks so.
“I think Jacob Bethell comes back in when he’s fit and fresh at number three, deserves to. It was his shirt. He got hundred, whatever, at the SCG,” Broad said.
“So yeah, I’ve got no doubt that Bethell comes back in, and then you have the question mark, as does Cox go to the keeping gloves. Does he go bat six if Bethell can bowl spin? Or is he just that spare batter that waits his turn again?”
So, where does that leave Cox? In a tough spot, where solid performances don’t seem to secure a spot. Tough luck. But that’s not it. Especially with Edgbaston looming.
If Cox goes out there and gets a big score, ignoring him becomes nearly impossible.
“I think someone will want a 100 at Edgbaston. Someone will want to stamp a real authority on this series with the bat. And if Jordan Cox goes and gets 150 at Edgbaston, then it’s very hard to leave him out, come Proteas before Christmas,” Broad concluded.
Whichever way the Three Lions management jumps, someone’s going to feel hard done by.
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