Youngest England captain Bethell to lead T20s against Ireland in Dublin

Jacob Bethell, 21, is set to become England’s youngest male captain in international cricket, steering the T20 side in a three-match series against Ireland in Dublin next month as regular white-ball leaders are rested to manage workload ahead of a busy autumn schedule. The call-up marks a rapid elevation for the Warwickshire allrounder, who has impressed with leadership qualities in England’s white-ball squads and will lead a fairly young England group in Ireland while senior figures take a breather.

The announcements set out a broad plan for England’s autumn, beginning with three ODIs and three T20Is against South Africa, before a three-match T20 series in Ireland. In the South Africa fixtures, Harry Brook captains the ODI team, with Bethell named in the squad alongside Jofra Archer, Sonny Baker and Rehan Ahmed, among others. Baker earns his first England call-up after standout displays for Hampshire and in domestic leagues, while Rehan Ahmed is recalled after an excellent summer with the ball. Mark Wood has been left out of the white-ball squads as he continues to recover from knee surgery, with England prioritising his winter schedule; Gus Atkinson and other pace options...