Jacob Bethell is expected to be fit to play in England’s first Test match of the summer against New Zealand, starting on June 4, after the all-rounder sustained a left ring finger injury while playing for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the Indian Premier League.
The ECB confirmed on Monday that it had agreed with RCB for the 22-year-old to return to the UK to undergo treatment.
Although the nature of Bethell’s injury was not fully disclosed, it had cast doubt over whether he would be fit to play against New Zealand next week, live on Sky Sports.
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Bethell responds to questions around his participation in the Indian Premier League while the county cricket season is ongoing
“Following a review of Jacob Bethell’s left ring finger injury, he will continue to be monitored in the lead-up to the Rothesay first Test against New Zealand, starting on Thursday June 4 at Lord’s, and he is expected to be fit to play in the match,” the ECB said in a statement.
Should Bethell be unavailable for the first Test, England would likely look to Somerset wicketkeeper-batter James Rew to take his position at No 3 in the order. Rew, who is uncapped at international level, has enjoyed some fine form in the County Championship this year, notably making scores of 64 and 122 against Nottinghamshire in April.
Bethell missed RCB’s match on Friday against Sunrisers Hyderabad due to his finger injury. RCB secured their passage to the IPL final on Tuesday, beating Gujarat Titans by 92 runs.
Bethell has returned to the UK and is being assessed by ECB medics
Bethell was unused through RCB’s opening six matches of the season, but finally made his first appearance in April, scoring 14 runs against Gujarat Titans.
He endured a mixed season, going on to make seven appearances, with his highest score of 27 coming against Mumbai Indians in May.
Bethell says IPL has improved his cricket
Bethell enjoyed success during the winter Ashes series, scoring a century at the SCG
Bethell’s decision to stay and play cricket in the IPL, instead of returning home to ply his trade for Warwickshire, was questioned by former England captain Sir Alastair Cook.
Cook urged the 22-year-old to return home and play for his county, ahead of England’s Test series against New Zealand and Pakistan.
“He’s not doing anything,” Cook said.
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Bethell looks ahead to a packed schedule in 2026, saying matches matter more to him than the format he plays in
“Ideally, he could come back and open for Warwickshire to help England.”
Kevin Pietersen subsequently took to social media to question Cook’s comments.
“Alastair Cook has absolutely NO IDEA what it’s like to be in the IPL. What it’s like to always be around the best players in the world,” Pietersen wrote on X.
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Bethell claimed his first England Test hundred was ‘always coming’ after scoring 142 not out on day four against Australia in Sydney
During England’s disappointing winter Ashes series in Australia, Bethell was drafted into the side to replace Ollie Pope for the Boxing Day Test, before making a second-innings score of 154 at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Bethell also impressed during his debut Test series away to New Zealand in 2024, hitting three half-centuries across three matches.
Speaking on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast in December, Bethell explained his cricket has improved, following his initial time in the IPL.
“Once you are selected for the IPL, you are not allowed to be pulled back, and that experience I had over those two months – I was a much better cricketer than when I arrived,” he said.
“Learning from Virat Kohli, [coach] Andy Flower and [team director] Mo Bobat. Even facing unbelievable net bowlers all the time. You have different conditions at every ground.
“I know I only played two games, but the learnings I got from the cauldron of India and the IPL were priceless.
“You had 50,000 people in Bengaluru, and it feels like 150,000. I am not going to say it felt the same; the MCG is obviously bigger, but I know what I am able to get out of myself in times like that. In a big occasion, I knew I could keep things the same.”
England’s upcoming Test cricket schedule
Home to New Zealand – June
- First Test (Thursday June 4-Monday June 8) – Lord’s, London (11am)
- Second Test (Wednesday June 17-Sunday June 21) – The Kia Oval, London (11am)
- Third Test (Thursday June 25-Monday June 29) – Trent Bridge, Nottingham (11am)
Home to Pakistan – August and September
- First Test (Wednesday August 19-Sunday August 23) – Headingley, Leeds (11am)
- Second Test (Thursday August 27-Monday August 31) – Lord’s, London (11am)
- Third Test (Wednesday September 9-Sunday September 13) – Edgbaston, Birmingham (11am)
Away to South Africa – December and January
- First Test (Tuesday December 17-Saturday December 21) – Wanderers, Johannesburg
- Second Test (Thursday December 26-Monday December 30) – SuperSport Park, Centurion
- Third Test (Sunday January 3-Thursday January 7) – Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town
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