Jacob Bethell of England ‘out of Champions Trophy’ says captain Buttler
Jacob Bethell is expected to miss the Champions Trophy due to a left hamstring injury. He sustained the injury after scoring 51 in the first ODI against India and was absent from the second ODI. England lost the second ODI, giving India an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series.
England captain Jos Buttler expressed his disappointment, stating that Bethell’s absence is a “shame”. Tom Banton has been called up as cover and will join the team for the final ODI in Ahmedabad.
Scans revealed a suspected tear, likely sideliningBethell for four to six weeks. This timeline could also cause him to miss the start of the IPL season with the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB). While England has not made an official statement, the deadline for naming replacements to the 15-man squad is February 12.
Banton, who last played an ODI for England in August 2020, has been performing well in T20 franchise cricket. He is the leading run-scorer in the ILT20 competition, with 493 runs in 11 innings, including two centuries. Banton has played in 6 ODIs, averaging 26.80 with a top score of 58. England will begin their Champions Trophy campaign against Australia on February 22 in Lahore.