Jacob Bethell ruled out of England's white-ball tour of Australia

England’s preparations for their white-ball tour of Australia have been dealt a significant blow with the news that batter Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of the entire series. The 23-year-old, who was aiming to make his international return, experienced discomfort in his right knee during a training session in Perth earlier this week.

Following the setback, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed that scans have ruled the player out of the upcoming fixtures. Bethell is scheduled to depart Australia this Saturday to return to the United Kingdom, where he will undergo further assessment with a specialist. The injury is a recurrence of the issue he sustained during England’s ODI series victory over India in July, where he notably scored 91 at Lord's. He had previously undergone surgery in September in an attempt to resolve the problem.

The tour, which spans from November 13 to December 2, consists of three ODIs followed by five T20 Internationals. The ODI series commences in Perth on November 13, with subsequent matches scheduled for Adelaide and Hobart. Following the conclusion of the 50-over games, the T20I leg of the tour begins in Melbourne on November 21, moving through the Gold Coast, Brisbane, and Sydney before concluding in Canberra on December 2.