Jacob Bethell has made an explosive entry into Test cricket, scoring a half-century off just 37 balls on his debut against New Zealand at Hagley Oval, Christchurch. The 21-year-old, who was recently acquired by Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for INR 2.60 crores in the IPL 2025 auction, showcased his incredible hitting ability by smashing eight fours and a six to lead England to victory on day four of the match.

Batting at No. 3, Bethell wasted no time and played a fearless innings, taking apart the New Zealand bowling attack. His 37-ball fifty equaled the second-fastest half-century by a debutant in Test cricket history, tying with Tim Southee. Bethell particularly dominated debutant Nathan Smith, hitting four boundaries in five balls, before sealing the game with a six in the final over.

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England Captain Ben Stokes praised Bethell for his fearless approach in the post-match presentation. "Chasing those little targets can sometimes be difficult... Beth has grown into his own in that little period there. He's been playing like that all summer in the white-ball team, so nice to see him do it in whites," said Stokes, acknowledging Bethell’s brilliant knock.