‘It was quite a hard thing to be there’ – Jordan Cox reflects on missing out on England Test debut

Although Jordan Cox did not play a single match for Royal Challengers Bengaluru during their IPL 2026 title-winning campaign, he can still call himself an IPL champion. His primary contribution to the franchise came as a substitute fielder throughout the season.

Away from the IPL, Cox continues to wait for his long-awaited Test debut for England. The 25-year-old was in line to receive his maiden Test cap during England’s tour of New Zealand, but a broken thumb sustained in the nets ruled him out, paving the way for Jacob Bethell to make his debut instead. Cox then suffered another setback when a side strain forced him to miss the one-off Test against Zimbabwe. 

Since then, Cox and Bethell have developed a close friendship. However he admitted it was difficult watching Bethell receive the Test cap that he had believed would be his.

“It was quite a hard thing to be there. But he’s taken it with both hands and it’s been incredible to watch what he’s become. For someone that hasn’t scored any first-class hundreds… to come in and shut everyone up, it just shows that he was the man for the job,” said Cox as quoted by ESPN.

Cox and Bethell have shared several milestones in their England careers, making their international debuts together in a T20I against Australia before being present for each other’s ODI debuts. The pair have since developed a close friendship, and Cox hopes Bethell will also be there to witness his long-awaited Test debut whenever the opportunity finally arrives.

Bethell’s recent injury scare could have left Cox questioning his decision to play in the IPL had it opened up another vacancy in England’s Test side. However, that scenario appears unlikely, as scans revealed no serious damage, leaving Bethell on course to retain his place in the team.

“The IPL’s the marquee competition in the world. Test cricket’s the biggest thing, and I really want to give it a good crack. But the things I’ve learned here and the calibre of players that are here is something that, at that moment in time, I just couldn’t turn down… It was a dream come true, really, just to be in an IPL team,” said Cox.

His focus, then, is on turning the intangible benefits of his time at the IPL into cold, hard runs over the next few weeks, thereby forcing his way into England squads: firstly, for their white-ball series against India in July, and perhaps even for their Test series against Pakistan after the Hundred.

“I feel like I’ve been on the cusp for three years. Hopefully, I’ll get back and hit the ground running. That would be ideal – and then what will be will be,” said Cox.