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Bethell (21 years and 329 days) is leading England in the first T20I of the ongoing three-match series against Ireland in Dublin.
Jacob Bethell becomes England’s youngest-ever captain. (Picture Credit: Screengrab)
Jacob Bethell entered his name in the history books on Wednesday, September 17, by becoming the youngest player to captain England in international cricket. The first T20I of the ongoing three-match series between England and Ireland in Dublin is Bethell’s first match as England captain. He is 21 years and 329 days old.
In his first T20I as captain of England, Bethell won the toss and opted to field first.
Bethell was appointed as England’s captain for the ongoing series against Ireland last month. England’s regular white-ball captain Harry Brook is not playing in the ongoing series, but former captain Jos Buttler is available for the first-ever bilateral T20I series between England and Ireland. Buttler, who led England to the T20 World Cup title win in 2022, is part of the playing XI as well, along with Phil Salt, who has also captained England in T20Is in the past.
Before Bethell, the record of being the youngest player to captain England was in the name of Monty Bowden. Bowden was 23 years and 144 days old when he captained England in a Test match against South Africa in Cape Town on March 25, 1889.
England’s youngest captains
| PLAYER | AGE | FORMAT | OPPOSITION | VENUE | DATE |
| Jacob Bethell | 21 years, 329 days | T20I | Ireland | Dublin | September 17, 2025 |
| Monty Bowden | 23 years, 144 days | Test | South Africa | Cape Town | March 25, 1889 |
| Ivo Bligh | 23 years, 292 days | Test | Australia | Melbourne | December 30, 1882 |
| Ian Botham | 24 years, 186 days | ODI | West Indies | Leeds | May 28, 1980 |
| Ian Botham | 24 years, 194 days | Test | West Indies | Nottingham | June 5, 1980 |
| Alastair Cook | 24 years, 325 days | T20I | South Africa | Centurion | November 15, 2009 |
| Eoin Morgan | 24 years, 349 days | ODI | Ireland | Dublin | August 25, 2011 |
Before Bethell, the youngest player to captain England in T20Is was Alastair Cook. The legendary English batter and former captain was 24 years and 325 days old when he led the English team in the shortest format against South Africa in Centurion on November 15, 2009.
England’s youngest captains in T20Is
| PLAYER | AGE | OPPOSITION | VENUE | DATE |
| Jacob Bethell | 21 years, 329 days | Ireland | Dublin | September 17, 2025 |
| Alastair Cook | 24 years, 325 days | South Africa | Centurion | November 15, 2009 |
| Stuart Broad | 25 years, 1 day | Sri Lanka | Bristol | June 25, 2011 |
| Jos Buttler | 25 years, 80 days | Pakistan | Dubai | November 27, 2015 |
Playing XIs
Ireland: Paul Stirling (C), Ross Adair, Harry Tector, Lorcan Tucker (WK), Curtis Campher, Gareth Delany, George Dockrell, Barry McCarthy, Graham Hume, Matthew Humphreys, Craig Young
England: Philip Salt, Jos Buttler (WK), Jacob Bethell (C), Rehan Ahmed, Tom Banton, Sam Curran, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Liam Dawson, Adil Rashid, Luke Wood
Dublin, Ireland
September 17, 2025, 17:57 IST
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