A feature in The Telegraph this weekend traced the journey of England cricketer Jacob Bethell (W 17-22) from the playing fields of Rugby School to international stardom.

Jacob joined Rugby School aged 12 on a full sports scholarship, with references from Sir Garfield Sobers and Brian Lara. He spent six years at the school under the mentorship of former Warwickshire captain Michael Powell, who served both as coach and guardian.

Powell immediately recognised his potential: “Hand on heart, the first time I saw him swing a bat, I thought he’d play international cricket,” he told The Telegraph.

That prediction came true, and last Thursday Jacob marked his first international at his home ground in Edgbaston, scoring a rapid half-century against the West Indies and earning the man-of-the-match award. As he raised his bat, he looked to the stands and acknowledged Michael Powell, who was watching on from the chairman’s box.

Following the match, Jacob gifted signed shirts to current Rugby School students and publicly credited Michael for helping shape his career: “He was the reason I came to the UK,” Bethell said, recalling how Michael Powell had taken him to Edgbaston as a boy and told him he’d one day play there for England.

His rise to international cricket has been underpinned by extraordinary discipline and talent. Michael Powell recounted long afternoons spent honing Jacob's fielding technique on The Close: “He never, ever dropped a single one. He was a phenomenal fielder.”

Jacob has since opened the batting in the Indian Premier League alongside Virat Kohli and spoken of the influence that experience has had on his development: “Just living in the goldfish bowl with Kohli can only help,” he said. “He’s definitely got that aura. It’s pretty electrifying to walk out to bat with him.”

Reflecting on Jacob's trajectory, Michael remarked: “It is just very rewarding to see him realise his dream - but also go out there and grab it with both hands.”