Jacob Bethell responds to IPL criticism as Sir Alastair Cook calls for England star to consider return to county cricket with Warwickshire

Jacob Bethell has responded to criticism about his lack of match time at the Indian Premier League as former England captain Sir Alastair Cook called for him to consider a return to county cricket.

Bethell's century in the final Test at Sydney in January was a belated high point of England's woeful Ashes tour and he cemented his status as a star in the making with an astonishing 105 in the T20 World Cup semi-final against India in March.

But that remains his most recent competitive innings, having failed to earn a spot in the Royal Challengers Bengaluru team.

He has spent six matches so far at the IPL watching from the sidelines, with head coach Andy Flower preferring England team-mate Phil Salt, Tim David, Romario Shepherd and Josh Hazlewood as his overseas picks.

The 22-year-old is now facing a similar situation to last season, when his IPL stint prevented him from pushing his cause at the start of the domestic campaign and ultimately stopped him from overtaking Ollie Pope in the pecking order until the Ashes had already been lost.

Cook says Bethell should consider returning to play county cricket with Warwickshire, rather than "sitting on his a*** not doing anything" at the Indian Premier League.