Young England all-rounder Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of the ODI series against India after suffering a hamstring injury, confirmed the England and Wales Cricket Board on Sunday, February 9. The ECB called up batter Tom Banton as his replacement.
Banton last played an ODI way back in August 2020 but has been in good form in the ILT20, where he is the leading run-scorer. Banton is expected to join the England side on Monday, 10 February, ahead of the 3rd and final ODI of the series.
“England Men have called up Somerset batter Tom Banton as cover for the third ODI against India in Ahmedabad, which starts on Wednesday. Warwickshire batting all-rounder Jacob Bethell, who featured in the first ODI defeat in Nagpur, has sustained a left hamstring injury. The injury will be assessed further when the team arrives in Ahmedabad on Monday,” the ECB release said on Sunday, 9 February.
“Banton, who last played for England in an ODI in August 2020, has been in outstanding form in T20 franchise cricket. He is currently the leading run-scorer in the UAE ILT20 competition, where he has amassed 493 runs from 11 innings at an average of 54.77, including two centuries,” the release added.
Bethell played a gritty knock in the first ODI of the series, where he bailed out a collapsing England with a half-century. Bethell’s partnership with Jos Buttler was crucial in England crossing the 200-run mark in Nagpur.
Before the ODI series, Bethell played 3 T20I matches against India. Bethell missed matches in that series as well, after falling ill due to a stomach issue following the opener at Eden Gardens.
