Harry Brook believes Jacob Bethell has “great potential” in captaincy terms as he is “always trying” to move a game forward.
Bethell, 21, will become England’s youngest captain in international cricket when he skippers England’s white-ball team in a three-match T20I series with Ireland in September.
The Barbados-born batting all-rounder has played 13 T20I matches, scoring 281 in 12 innings with an average of 40.14.
Brook rested for Ireland series
Bethell will take the captaincy role when Yorkshire star and England white-ball skipper Brook takes a breather for the series in Ireland.
Brook has already made his mark in the role since taking over from Jos Buttler, and the flamboyant batter thinks Bethell has what it takes to also revel in the responsibility.
He told Sky Sports: “Beth has great potential to be a captain in future.
“He thinks very well about the game and is always trying to move it forward, like I am. We think similarly.
“I think he will be an aggressive captain. He is always looking to put opposition batters and bowlers under pressure.
“That is what we have asked for and he does that in abundance.”
England squad for T20I series vs Ireland: Jacob Bethell (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jos Buttler, Liam Dawson, Tom Hartley, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Matthew Potts, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Luke Wood.
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South Africa test first up
Ahmed and Baker have also been named in the squad to face Ireland, but first Brook and the trio of players face South Africa in three ODIs and three T20Is next month.
Brook will be captain for the games against the Proteas and can’t wait to unleash paceman Baker on them, having seen him unsettle some of the best batters on the planet in The Hundred.
Hat-trick hero raring to go
Hampshire fast bowler Baker has claimed the scalps of Dawid Malan, Jonny Bairstow, and Joe Root in this year’s competition so far – particularly catching the eye with a hat-trick for Manchester Originals against Brook’s Superchargers.
Brook is excited to see how he performs in the international arena, telling a press conference: “He is bowling at high pace, has got skill and has really impressed against some of the international players – Kane Williamson, [David] Warner, [Steve] Smith, Bairstow.
“He has put them under pressure in the powerplay and that is something we are looking forward to watching in the future. He has the ability to get wickets and take hat-tricks.”
England face South Africa in ODIs on Tuesday, September 2 (1pm), Thursday, September 4 (1pm), and Sunday, September 7 (11am).
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High five for batsman Ahmed
Captain Brook is also relishing the opportunity to see if leg-spinner and batter Ahmed, who bats at number three for his county Leicestershire, can continue his fine form, having hit five tons.
The Yorkshire star said: “He is a fantastic talent and has gone up a level this year with the bat.
“He has been given good opportunities and risen to the occasion, while he is skilled with the ball and good in the field which is what we look for.
“He has all three attributes to be a very good player.”
England squad for ODI series vs South Africa: Harry Brook (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jamie Smith.
England squad for T20 series vs South Africa: Harry Brook (captain), Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Tom Banton, Jacob Bethell, Jos Buttler, Brydon Carse, Liam Dawson, Ben Duckett, Will Jacks, Saqib Mahmood, Jamie Overton, Adil Rashid, Phil Salt, Jamie Smith, Luke Wood.
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SportJustSport writers