JACOB'S BACKER

After Bethell hits maiden ton, McCullum says side for first Ashes Test is not nailed down yet

- BY IAN BAKER

BRENDON McCULLUM has told new England star Jacob Bethell that the Ashes side is not set in stone.

Bethell smashed his maiden century in professional cricket as the Three Lions hammered South Africa in Sunday's third and final ODI.

England's Test batting lineup of Ben Duckett, Zak Crawley, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Harry Brook, Ben Stokes and Jamie Smith has always looked guaranteed for November's first Test in Perth.

But McCullum (inset) has opened up the door for change - especially with Bethell, just 21, captaining the T20 side in Ireland later this month.