England’s middle-order batsman Jacob Bethell is struggling with a hamstring issue, just two weeks before the Champions Trophy.
Bethell, who played in the first match of the ongoing ODI series against India, scored 51 runs in the game England lost last Thursday. Unfortunately, due to his injury, he will miss the second ODI on Sunday.
The third and final match of the series will be played on Wednesday, but it’s unlikely that the 21-year-old Bethell will feature in England’s final ODI before the Champions Trophy.
Meanwhile, wicketkeeper-batsman Jamie Smith is also battling a muscle injury. As a result, England had to call up former players Marcus Trescothick and Paul Collingwood from the coaching staff as substitute fielders during the second ODI against India.
Tom Banton has been added to the squad as a cover for Bethell and will join the team in India on Monday.
Bethell’s injury will soon be assessed, and he has limited time to recover before the Champions Trophy. However, there is hope that Smith will recover in time, as he participated in a warm-up session with the team on Sunday.
The final day to make changes to the Champions Trophy squad is Wednesday.
So far, Bethell has played 9 ODIs for England, scoring 218 runs with two fifties at an average of 31.14. He is also an effective left-arm spinner, with 5 wickets in ODIs.
Banton, who is hoping to revive his stalled international career, has had a stellar run in the ongoing ILT20. Playing for MI Emirates, he scored 493 runs in 11 innings, with two centuries and three fifties, at an average of 54.77 and a strike rate of 151.69. His last international match was in January 2022, and his last ODI appearance was in August 2020 against Ireland.
