Ben Stokes Confident In England's Decision To Bat Jacob Bethell At Number Three

Ben Stokes has addressed the decision to place Jacob Bethell at number three in the batting order, acknowledging the questions it has raised. However, he reassures that England's selectors are confident in their choices.

Bethell, a 21-year-old left-handed batsman from Warwickshire, is set to make his Test debut against New Zealand in Christchurch on Thursday. Despite his potential, he has yet to score a century in senior cricket and has never batted higher than number four in his 20 first-class matches.

The decision to promote Bethell up the order surprised many. When questioned about this move, England's captain sought to ease any concerns. "You can totally understand it, but you've got to be true to yourself when you get given the opportunity to be able to make decisions," Stokes stated.

Stokes emphasised that their decisions are always made with the team's best interests at heart. "We've always done what we feel is right for the team. It's gone in our favour quite a lot, so I think we do know what we're doing," he added.

Bethell joins the Test squad after making 15 appearances in white-ball cricket, generating considerable anticipation for his future contributions. Initially selected as a backup batsman, he was called into action following Jordan Cox's injury.

Stokes expressed confidence in Bethell's abilities despite his sudden inclusion. "Beth's got the capability to be able to go out there, bat three and hopefully impact the game, like he has done throughout the summer in the white-ball team," Stokes remarked.

The captain further explained that their selection process is not arbitrary. "We're not picking people just to wind people up. We do know what we're doing," he affirmed.

Stokes reiterated that decisions are based on clear criteria and standards. "We do know what we look for, and when you're in a position to make decisions you've got to do it by your standards and your means," he concluded.