England has appointed 21-year-old all-rounder Jacob Bethell as captain for next month’s three-match Twenty20 series against Ireland, making him the youngest man to lead the national side. Bethell will be 21 years and 329 days old when the series opens at Malahide on 17 September, eclipsing the record set by Monty Bowden, who was 23 years and 144 days when he captained England in a Test in 1889. The England and Wales Cricket Board said senior multi-format players have been rested, giving Bethell—already capped 29 times across formats—an opportunity to develop his leadership. Selector Luke Wright praised the Warwickshire player’s “impressive” captaincy qualities and said the assignment would test him on the international stage. Bethell will head a 14-man squad that includes spinner Adil Rashid and wicketkeeper-batter Jos Buttler, while fast bowler Sonny Baker, 22, receives his first senior call-up for the preceding one-day tour of South Africa. England will travel to New Zealand in October before beginning a five-Test Ashes campaign in Australia in November.