great england Alastair Cook revived the debate about Jacob Bethell IPL stint, saying international cricket should always come before franchise leagues. His comments resurfaced after Bethell was ruled out of this year’s One 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 of Bethell staying in the IPL despite limited opportunities.“What I’m saying is, I think this is where it’s really important. I’m here for the Test match in a week, and one of our No. 3 players (is sitting on the bench) … I think it’s really important that English cricket is more important than an IPL or a franchise. That’s what I think, and apparently, I’m not allowed to think, because the IPL is the best tournament in the world,” said the former skipper. Cook also questioned the value of Bethell spending another IPL season on the bench, adding: “So I took it from Jacob Bethel, who sat on the bench the year before and learned from all those players, who then even sitting on the bench do not play. I’m sitting here going, my No. 3 in the side, actually, I really want to win, which is in England, and all those who are franchises at RCB, not I don’t want England, and all the franchises to England the most successful side.“Cook’s comments gained 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 clash also raised doubts over his availability for England’s upcoming Test series against Pakistan.Earlier this year, Bethell defended his decision to stay at Royal Challengers Bengaluru despite limited playing time, saying “there is no right or wrong way” and insisting that training in the IPL had helped his development even when he was not part of the playing XI.
