England all-rounder Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of The Hundred due to a knee injury. Bethell sustained the injury during the recent one-day international series against India.
The 22-year-old was scheduled to captain the Birmingham Phoenix franchise in the T20 tournament. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) confirmed on Monday that Bethell underwent an MRI scan, but a timeline for his return has not yet been provided.
Bethell's absence is a significant blow, particularly as he is considered a future leader within England cricket, having previously captained the national side in a T20 series against Ireland last year. His recent form included a player-of-the-match performance in the series decider against India, where he scored 91 runs and took one wicket.
Donovan Ferreira, a two-time Hundred champion with the Oval Invincibles, will replace Bethell as captain of the Birmingham Phoenix. The Phoenix's opening match of the season is scheduled for Friday against the Trent Rockets at Edgbaston.
Bethell, who plays county cricket for Warwickshire, was retained by the Phoenix during the recent auction for a reported £340,000. England's Test series against Pakistan is set to begin on August 19.