‘England cricket is more important than IPL or franchise’: Alastair Cook reignites Jacob Bethell debate amid The Hundred withdrawal

Alastair Cook reignites the Jacob Bethell debate England great Alastair Cook has revived the debate over Jacob Bethell’s IPL stint, saying international cricket should always take precedence over franchise leagues. His comments resurfaced after Bethell was ruled out of this year’s hundred with a knee injury, denying him valuable match practice ahead of England’s Test series against Pakistan. Speaking on the Stick to Cricket podcast alongside Mo Bobat and Dinesh Karthik, Cook doubled down on his earlier criticism that Bethell had remained in the IPL despite limited opportunities.“What I’m saying is, I think it’s really important here. I’m here in a Test match in a week and one of our No.3 players (is sitting on the bench)… I think it’s really important that England cricket is more important than the IPL or the franchise. I think that, and I’ve obviously said that I can’t think he’s the best in the world because the ex-skier is the best in the world. Cook also questioned the value of Bethell spending another IPL season on the bench, adding: “So I take it from Jacob Bethel, who sat on the bench the year before and learned from all those players who then also sit on the bench and don’t play. I’m sitting here, my No.3 in a side that I really want to win, which is England, no disrespect to England, RCB and all the top achievers.”Cook’s comments received fresh attention after Bethell suffered a knee injury during England’s ODI series against India, forcing him to withdraw from The Hundred where he was due to captain Birmingham Phoenix. The setback also raised doubts over his availability for England’s upcoming Test series against Pakistan.Earlier this year, Bethell defended his decision to stay with Royal Challengers Bengaluru despite limited playing time, saying there was “no right or wrong way” and insisting that training in the IPL had helped his development despite not being part of the playing XI.