Michael Vaughan is concerned about the treatment of England of Jacob Bethell, and emphasizes the risk of choking his development with too much “pressure and expectation”.
Bethell was one of the many England players who could not deliver when South Africa called a dominant victory in the first metro bank ODI in Headingley.
The highly rated 21-year-old only lasted two deliveries, where he was slipping Keshav Maharaj Nicking through deflection of the Wicketkeeper and struggled in his previous international outing in the last test of the India series.
The Warwickshire player became on the side on the back of only one first-class performance, was rejected six and five and seemed understandably short of rhythm.
Nevertheless, England has entrusted him with extra responsibility by calling his as a captain for the T20 series in Ireland later this month – the youngest man ever to do the work.
Can Captain influence his progress?
And Vaughan is worried that the fast-track promotion could hinder its progress.
“He will be a great player for England. My problem is that he has been put on this pedestal, of almost greatness, without playing cricket and scoring points,” the former Ashes-winning skipper told BBC’s Test match Special.
“That selection in the last test against India, I thought it was quite astonishing, to throw in a young player. Then they have given him the T20 capincy: more busy. I don’t think you should give Jacob more pressure.
“Let him play cricket, let him find that electricity and shape. If you think he is now a leader, he will be a leader in two or three years. Put that kind of pressure and expectation on him.”
Bethell and the rest of the English side immediately have the chance to rectify their bad show in Leeds when they take the Proteas in Lord on Thursday.
They have to win to keep their hope alive to keep the series of three games alive and have to sharpen themselves in all facets.
Only Jamie Smith, with an entrepreneurial 54 at the top of the innings and Adil Rashid with three comfort wickets, traveled to the south with something to build.
The fast turning shows no chance of practice nets, with preparations in Headingley also hindered by the absence of players involved in the last weekend of the hundred. That means there may be a situation in which England loses the series without having had a full training session as a team.
South African plans
South Africa, on the other hand, is fresh from an impressive 2-1 ODI victory in Australia and worked together on strategies for these games last week.
“The plans have been really good,” said Maharaj, who took four to 22 with his left-arm spider.
“The boys have put a lot of work. Not only for this series, but prior to the series in Australia. We have had a number of good camps and have worked with the bowling coach.”
“But every game is a new start for us and England, we go back to the drawing board and see which areas we can improve.”
Second ODI
England will think about changes to the XI and have a call to make on newcomer Sonny Baker after the chasing debut of the Hampshire Seamer.
He saw seven wicketless overs for 76 drumming – and took a golden duck with the bat – and was able to make way for Saqib Mahmood as England chooses to get him out of the shooting line.
The in-shape Rehan Ahmed is also at hand, but the leg-spinning all-rounder may find it difficult to release Will Jacks at number seven.
Jordan Cox is rewarded for the end when the leading Run scorer in the hundred with a late call-up to the T20 team to face Ireland. Cox, who earned five White-Ball Caps last year, was initially overlooked, but will now travel for the competitions in Malahide to strengthen the Batting-Line-Up.
Read more: Sonny Baker tolerates Nightmare Debut as sorry England crushed by South Africa
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