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Jacob Bethell ruled out of England's Australia tour as James Coles earns call-up

England batter Jacob Bethell misses the white-ball tour to Australia after a knee setback, with James Coles and Eddie Jack called up as replacements.

By , Editor

· 2 min read

James Coles
James Coles (file photo) Photo: Dave Morton / Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of England's white-ball tour to Australia following a knee injury setback. James Coles and Eddie Jack have been called up as replacements ahead of the first ODI in Perth.

Key takeaways

  • Jacob Bethell ruled out of England's white-ball tour to Australia
  • Injury setback detected during training session in Perth
  • James Coles and Eddie Jack called up as replacements
  • First ODI takes place in Perth on Friday, November 13
  • Bethell's participation in South Africa Test series is now uncertain

Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of England's white-ball tour to Australia after suffering a setback in his recovery from knee surgery. The England and Wales Cricket Board confirmed on Wednesday that Bethell will return to the UK to see a specialist. The first ODI takes place in Perth on Friday, November 13.

The injury

Bethell has not played any cricket since England's ODI series against India in mid-July. He missed England's warm-up win over Western Australia on Saturday.

He had initially hoped to recover from injury in time for England's Test series against Pakistan but was subsequently diagnosed with a chondral defect, or cartilage damage, in his right knee that prompted surgery.

He recently told the Mail on Sunday that he had played through pain during the India series, having first experienced soreness during the T20Is that came before it.

"Initially I thought it was going to be three or four weeks: have a bit of time off my feet and then get back into it," Bethell said.

Instead, it has now caused him to miss nearly five months of cricket, including England's home Tests against Pakistan, their ODIs against Sri Lanka, the recent tri-series in Pakistan and now the entirety of their white-ball tour to Australia.

Impact on the squad

Bethell is the second member of England's white-ball squad to be ruled out of the tour after Josh Tongue suffered a toe injury. Both have been named in England's Test squad to travel to South Africa.

Spin-bowling all-rounder James Coles and seamer Eddie Jack have been called up as replacements, and will join the squad on Thursday. Both have previously been called up to squads before, but are yet to make their debuts.

England had already seen fast bowler Josh Tongue ruled out of the Australia tour because of a toe injury, with the uncapped pair of James Coles and Eddie Jack added to the squad.

Bethell's record

Bethell has now missed out on six consecutive series in all formats. He made his international debut in September 2024 against Australia at the Rose Bowl, Southampton. In domestic cricket, Bethell represents Warwickshire and Birmingham Phoenix, and in the Indian Premier League he plays for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

What happens next

Bethell suffered a setback in his return from the injury during a training session in Perth earlier this week. With a busy winter ahead, it was decided that he will return to the UK on Saturday before seeing a specialist.

His participation in the Test series in South Africa starting in December is also now called into question. Bethell wrote on his Instagram story: "Gutted to be missing more cricket. "

England squad changes for Australia tour

Player

Status

Role

Jacob Bethell

Ruled out

Batter

Josh Tongue

Ruled out

Fast bowler

James Coles

Called up

Spin-bowling all-rounder

Eddie Jack

Called up

Seamer

Sources

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