Setback in training, flight home
Jacob Bethell will not play a single game in Australia. England confirmed today that the batter and left-arm spinner has been ruled out of the whole white-ball tour after a problem in training, and he flies back to the UK at the weekend to see a specialist.
The 23-year-old has not played since July. His last innings was a 91 against India at Lord’s in the final ODI of the summer, after which a knee injury needed surgery. He had been aiming to return for the three ODIs that open in Perth on Friday, followed by five T20 internationals running into early December.
Bethell is not the first absentee. Josh Tongue was already out of the Australia leg with a toe injury. England have now brought Hampshire seamer Eddie Jack, still uncapped, and Sussex all-rounder James Coles into the ODI squad. Both were already part of the T20 group.
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The Test picture shifts
The bigger worry is the red-ball tour. Bethell was named on Monday in the squad for three Tests in South Africa starting on December 17. That now looks uncertain.
His absence would at least simplify one selection headache. Jordan Cox filled in at No 3 during the 3-0 home win over Pakistan and made three half-centuries in three matches. With Emilio Gay and Dan Lawrence also in the frame, a fit Bethell would have left four players chasing what may only be three spots.
In the one-day side, his route back was never guaranteed anyway. Tom Banton and Ben Duckett have formed a productive opening pair while he was out.
A window before the Tests
Michael Atherton, speaking on Sky Sports, described the decision as likely precautionary given how crowded England’s winter is, but pointed to the real concern: Bethell has played very little cricket. There is a way back. England Lions have a camp in Pietermaritzburg and a four-day game against South Africa A before the main series, which could give him minutes if the specialist gives him the all-clear.
The first ODI in Perth is on Friday, with Adelaide and Hobart to follow.
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