England lose Jacob Bethell to injury ahead of white-ball matches in Australia

Bethell has not played any cricket since July after undergoing surgery to repair cartilage damage in his right knee, and was selected to the tour to Australia but will play any part in the three ODIs or five T20Is.

The news is a significant blow for the 23-year-old as he had been named as Harry Brook's vice-captain in the white-ball formats, with the tour Down Under important preparation ahead of the 2027 World Cup.

"Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of the white-ball tour of Australia following a scan on his right knee," an England spokesperson said on Wednesday.

"Bethell suffered a setback in his return from the injury during a training session in Perth earlier this week. With a busy winter ahead, it was decided that he will return to the UK on Saturday before seeing a specialist."

The injury setback means Bethell will now have to prove his fitness ahead of the three-match Test in South Africa, that begins on 17 December at the Wanderers.

READ MORE: High demand for Cricket World Cup tickets with a year to go to the event