England's batting conundrum: Who misses out when Bethell returns?

England will have big decision to make in South Africa this winter when Jacob Bethell is fit again after a knee injury; Jordan Cox has impressed against Pakistan in Bethell's absence and staked claim for longer run in the side, perhaps putting pressure on opener Emilio Gay

Like a finalist on TV game show Countdown, England are going to have to deal with a particularly tricky conundrum.

Ben Stokes' international retirement and Jacob Bethell's knee injury offered opportunities to Jordan Cox and Dan Lawrence in the Test match batting line-up and those have largely been seized, albeit against a struggling Pakistan side.

While we don't think Stokes is going to make a comeback - although don't entirely rule it out - Bethell is set to return for the three-Test series in South Africa over the winter, leaving England with one batter too many for their XI.

Cox and Lawrence cannot be sure of their places, then, but the same can be said of opener Emilio Gay, who is averaging 23.44 across his first five Tests and has not passed 33 in his last six innings since back-to-back fifties against New Zealand.

England have made light work of Pakistan, securing a first Test series win since December 2024 - one they will attempt to turn into a 3-0 sweep at Edgbaston from September 9 - so could simply decide to keep faith with a winning team.

But the chances of Bethell not slotting back in immediately when fit appear incredibly remote with the 22-year-old viewed as a generational talent. He has hit hundreds for his country in all three formats over the last year or so, including an excellent Ashes ton.

Add in his handy left-arm spin bowling and excellence in the field, and he looks set to be a regular for years, likely, if not definitely, at No 3. However, that does not mean Cox, who has batted at first drop against Pakistan in Bethell's absence, is the obvious fall guy.

While Cox has made his name principally as a dasher in white-ball cricket - he was the MVP in The Hundred in 2025 after starring for Oval Invincibles - his first-class record stands up: over 4,000 runs in 66 games at an average of 43.27 with 12 centuries.

What has also stood up in his nascent Test career is his temperament and technique, with his successive fifties against Pakistan, across matches in Leeds and at Lord's, each coming after he came out to bat early on with the ball doing more than a bit.

Cox has an authority at the crease but that is in defence as well as attack and he notably reined himself in on the first day at Lord's after a pretty brisk start.