Trescothick Open to Bethell Moving Into England Test Opener’s Role

Marcus Trescothick believes England’s Test opener does not necessarily need to be a specialist at the top of the order.

England will need to decide how to accommodate Jacob Bethell when he returns from a knee injury for the tour of South Africa in December.

Emilio Gay opened alongside Ben Duckett during his first summer as a Test cricketer. He has scored three half-centuries, although he finishes the season with an average below 25.

Duckett, one of England’s senior players, hit the team’s only Test century of the summer, against New Zealand at Trent Bridge in June. However, the 31-year-old failed to reach 20 in the three-match series against Pakistan and has averaged less than 24 since the start of the Ashes.

Jordan Cox has impressed as Bethell’s replacement at number three. After making his Test debut this summer, Cox has averaged more than 42 and opened in first-class cricket early in his career.

Bethell has been considered as a potential opener and has moved up the order for England’s one-day side.

Dan Lawrence, another new addition to England’s top six for the Pakistan series, may be safe from selection discussions because of the off-spin he provides. Bethell’s return would add left-arm spin to the side.

Trescothick has served as England’s interim coach during the Pakistan series before handing over to New Zealander Stephen Fleming, who is due to travel to the UK in the coming days to begin planning for South Africa.

“You generally want your best top seven, however that looks,” Trescothick said. “Who that’s going to be, I don’t know. That’s for someone else to work out.”

Trescothick was one of England’s most successful Test openers and played in the side that famously won the 2005 Ashes. The former Somerset player believes cricket has changed significantly since the end of his 76-Test career in 2006.

“I reckon times have changed a little bit,” said the 50-year-old. “I think you look at your best batting line-up, however that fits up.

“If that’s with a specialist opener, great. If not, I think you can plan around it in this day and age. Players adapt pretty quickly because they’re chopping and changing formats.”

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