Jacob Bethell Ruled Out of Australia Tour; South Africa Tests in Doubt
England all-rounder Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of the entire white-ball tour of Australia after a setback in his comeback from knee surgery. The
England all-rounder Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of the entire white-ball tour of Australia after a setback in his comeback from knee surgery. The first one-day international starts in Perth on Friday, November 13.
The 23-year-old is now a doubt for England's three-Test series in South Africa, which begins on December 17.
Swelling after early fitness work
Bethell has not played since scoring 91 in the final ODI against India at Lord's in July. He had surgery on his right knee at the end of August.
He sat out last weekend's warm-up match at the Waca. Early fitness work on tour then brought swelling in the same knee, and scan results were sent to his specialist in the UK. His tour is officially over.
He watched training from the sidelines on Wednesday. Bethell will fly home on Saturday for further assessment.
He had been named in both the ODI and Twenty20 squads when England announced the touring parties in October. He is also in the Test squad for South Africa.
Coles and Jack called up
Sussex all-rounder James Coles and Hampshire seamer Eddie Jack replace Bethell. Both are in the senior T20 squad, and both are flying in early from the Lions series in the Caribbean. They are due in Perth on Thursday.
Fast bowler Josh Tongue was already out of the tour with a big toe problem. Coles and Jack cover for him as well.
ODI schedule
England play Australia in three one-day internationals:
First ODI: Friday, November 13, Perth.
Second ODI: Sunday, November 15, Adelaide.
Third ODI: Wednesday, November 18, Hobart.
The ODIs are followed by five T20 internationals. The tour is part of England's build-up to next year's ODI World Cup.
Bethell's absence adds to a long injury list. Jos Buttler is recovering from hamstring surgery, and Saqib Mahmood is out with a knee problem.
England's Test party for South Africa will be settled after the specialist reviews the scan on Bethell's right knee.
