Jacob Bethell is on the next flight home from India, a painful left-hand injury leaving England unsure whether their No.3 will be ready for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord’s on 4 June.
The 22-year-old jammed the ring finger while diving on the Dharamsala outfield during Royal Challengers Bengaluru’s win over Punjab Kings last Sunday. RCB sat him out of Friday’s group finale against Sunrisers Hyderabad; television pictures showed strapping on the damaged digit and a player who looked more irritated than alarmed.
Late on Saturday the ECB confirmed it had “agreed with RCB that Bethell should return home” to be assessed by its own medical staff. A verdict is expected by the middle of next week, leaving Bethell – fresh from a maiden Test hundred at the SCG in January – very little wriggle room.
England’s coaches had pencilled him in at first drop for Lord’s and, privately at least, were already twitchy about his indifferent IPL run – 96 runs in seven innings, plenty of frantic shuffling at the crease, not much rhythm. Whether the injury proves a blessing in disguise or simply rotten timing will hinge on the X-rays.
Plan B exists, if not a fully settled one. Somerset’s James Rew is the spare batter in the 13-man squad, while Jordan Cox – Bethell’s RCB team-mate and a clean striker of a different mould – would enter the conversation if a replacement is suddenly required.
Venkatesh Iyer stepped into RCB’s top order on Friday and cracked 44 from 19 balls, a useful cameo but of little consolation to England. Phil Salt, meanwhile, has shaken off his own sore finger and joined the squad before Tuesday’s qualifier against Gujarat Titans.
“Everyone at RCB wishes Jacob a speedy recovery and the very best for his rehabilitation process,” the franchise said in a statement.
Back home, the Test squad gathers at Loughborough on Sunday for a three-day camp. Rehan Ahmed will be missing initially – his Delhi Capitals side are still mathematically alive in the IPL – though officials are relaxed about the leg-spinner pitching up late if needed.
There has been the usual low-level grumble about centrally-contracted players squeezing IPL deals so close to the English summer. The ECB insists it weighs each case on merit, pointing to the financial lure of the tournament and the quality of the cricket. What happens when a key batter comes back damaged two weeks before a Lord’s Test is precisely the nightmare scenario critics like to flag.
Still, fingers can heal quickly – sometimes all it takes is rest, ice and a protective splint – and Bethell is nothing if not a fast learner. For now, England wait, hope and quietly sketch out contingencies, aware that New Zealand’s seam attack will not be in any way forgiving if their prospective No.3 is missing or under-cooked.
