England’s plans for the Champions Trophy have been rocked by a suspected hamstring tear that is likely to rule out Jacob Bethell, and leaves them patching together a batting order for the final two ODIs in India.
Brendon McCullum’s team have called up Tom Banton for the final ODI in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, and he looks likely to remain with the squad for the Champions Trophy campaign in Pakistan, which begins on 22 February against Australia in Lahore.
England remain without Jamie Smith, who has been nursing a calf injury since the third ODI in Rajkot last week. Smith may play in the final ODI and is progressing well enough to have kept wicket in the warm-up in Cuttack. The injury has robbed Smith of valuable 50-over experience as the 24-year-old has only played 22 List A matches in his career, with only seven of them internationals.
Bethell is being assessed by the England medical staff after pulling up sore from Thursday’s first ODI in Nagpur, where he scored 51 and took one wicket. But it is thought that the injury is serious enough to rule him out not only of this tour but the Champions Trophy, his first global event. It also robs England of another spin-bowling option.
The injury is a frustrating blow for the 21-year-old who has enjoyed a breakout winter in international cricket, including an impressive first Test tour of New Zealand in December. He is likely to be ready for his maiden Indian Premier League campaign with Virat Kohli’s Royal Challengers Bangalore and will remain with the England squad until the end of the India tour while the full extent of the injury is determined.
Banton last played for England three years ago and appeared to have lost his way until an outstanding cross-format summer with his county Somerset last season. He has followed that up by leading the run-scoring charts in the ILT20 in the UAE, smashing two centuries in his 493 runs from 11 innings. He will provide batting cover, with Smith likely to slot into the Champions Trophy XI as wicketkeeper-batsman at No 6.
For the second ODI in Cuttack, England were forced to select Jamie Overton at No 7, with Jofra Archer and Brydon Carse rested. The latter is carrying a minor toe injury.
