JACOB'S LADDER

Kohli lifts Bethell back up

- by DAVID CHARLESWORTH

JACOB BETHELL is right back on track after an IPL stint alongside Virat Kohli as the England youngster boosted his prospects of reclaiming his Test spot.

A perfectly-paced 82 off 53 balls on his home ground at Edgbaston was the standout of England's 400-8 in a 238-run demolition of the West Indies on Thursday.

The ODI series opener was his first England outing in three months as an injury to his left hamstring sidelined him for the Champions Trophy and IPL commitments meant he missed last week's Test win over Zimbabwe.

Bethell might have featured just twice for Royal Challengers Bangalore, but he gained valuable experience opening the batting both times with Indian superstar Kohli (below).