Jacob Bethell ruled out of Australia tour after knee injury setback

Jacob Bethell will miss England’s white-ball tour of Australia after a recurrence of his right-knee injury, BBC Sport reported on Wednesday. The 23-year-old is due to return home for a specialist assessment after undergoing a scan. His participation in the Test series in South Africa is also in serious doubt, although he has not been ruled out of that tour.

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The setback follows several months away from international cricket. Bethell last played for England in July, when he experienced knee discomfort during an innings of 91 against India in a one-day international at Lord’s. He underwent surgery in September and travelled to Australia with a return to competition in prospect. However, he missed the weekend warm-up against Western Australia before suffering the latest problem in training earlier this week.

England have brought in Sussex all-rounder James Coles as cover. There is a separate change to the one-day squad, with uncapped seamer Eddie Jack replacing Josh Tongue, who had already been ruled out because of a toe injury. The Australia programme starts with an ODI in Perth on Friday and comprises three one-day internationals followed by five T20 matches.

The South Africa Test series begins on 17 December, and Bethell was included in the squad for its three matches on Monday. According to BBC Sport’s report, selector Marcus North had acknowledged that England had not decided who would make way for him in the side that beat Pakistan 3-0 during the home summer. Opener Emilio Gay and number-three batter Jordan Cox both entered the Test team during that series.

Bethell’s fitness uncertainty leaves that selection question unresolved. Ollie Pope, recalled as the spare Test batter during Bethell’s summer absence, is scheduled to join an England Lions tour of South Africa that overlaps with the senior series. BBC Sport identified him as a possible replacement if Bethell cannot travel, alongside James Rew and uncapped Durham opener Ben McKinney. No replacement for the Test squad has been confirmed in the report.

The injury has interrupted Bethell’s progress since he scored 154 in the final Ashes Test in January. Speaking to BBC Sport before the opening ODI in Australia, Test captain Joe Root expressed disappointment for his teammate and recognised the work Bethell had put into his recovery. Root said he had limited information about the latest setback and hoped the absence would not be prolonged.