English middle-order batsman Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of the Champions Trophy due to an ongoing hamstring injury.
The concerns about his participation, which had been raised earlier, have come true. Bethell, who had been part of the squad for the ongoing ODI series against India, will miss the global tournament. In his place, Tom Banton has been called up to the England squad.
Bethell played in the first ODI last Thursday against India, scoring 52 runs, but was later diagnosed with a hamstring injury. This forced him to miss the final two matches of the series and now, he is also sidelined from the Champions Trophy.
To cover for Bethell’s injury, England has summoned Banton, who has been included in the playing XI for the third and final ODI on Wednesday. This marks his return to ODI cricket after a four-year hiatus.
Banton last played an ODI in August 2020. To date, he has played six ODIs for England, scoring 134 runs, including one fifty. In List A cricket, he has played 24 matches, accumulating 658 runs, including two centuries and four fifties.
Banton’s recent form in white-ball cricket has impressed England selectors. In the recently concluded ILT20, he was in stellar form with the bat. Representing MI Emirates, he scored 493 runs in 11 innings, including two centuries and three fifties, with an average of 54.77 and a strike rate of 151.69.
Now, Banton has the chance to revive his international career with the Champions Trophy.
England’s Champions Trophy campaign begins on February 22 against Australia. Their subsequent matches will be against Afghanistan on February 26 and South Africa on March 1.
England’s Champions Trophy Squad: Jos Buttler (captain), Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson, Tom Banton, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Ben Duckett, Jamie Overton, Jamie Smith, Liam Livingstone, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Sakhib Mahmud, Phil Salt, Mark Wood.
