England all-rounder Jacob Bethell will miss The Hundred after suffering a knee injury during the recent ODI series against India. The 22-year-old, who was set to lead the Birmingham Phoenix, underwent an MRI scan on Monday; the England and Wales Cricket Board has not provided a specific timeline for his recovery. This setback comes ahead of England’s Test series against Pakistan, which begins on August 19.
Missing the tournament is a significant disappointment for Bethell, a rising talent previously tipped for future national team leadership. He had arrived at the competition in excellent form, having scored 91 runs and claimed a wicket in Sunday’s series finale at Lord’s. Donovan Ferreira, a two-time champion with the Oval Invincibles, will step in as the new Phoenix captain. The Birmingham side, which retained Bethell for £340,000, begins its campaign against the Trent Rockets at Edgbaston this Friday.
