England – the whole world Jacob in Bethel was ruled out of the 2026 edition of The Hundred after injuring his right knee during the recently concluded ODI series against India.Bethell, who was retained by Birmingham Phoenix for GBP 340,000 ahead of The Hundred players, was also appointed as captain for the upcoming season. However, an MRI scan carried out on Monday confirmed the extent of the injury, forcing the 22-year-old to withdraw from the game. He should start his rehabilitation program immediately.The setback comes after a mixed white-ball performance against India, where Bethell produced some impressive performances despite an inconsistent comeback. He hit an unbeaten 76 off 46 balls in the second T20I before ending the ODI series by making 91 in the final match.
Shane Bond reacts to Bethell’s punch
Birmingham Phoenix head coach Shane Bond admitted the franchise was disappointed to lose its captain and one of its most popular players, but stressed Bethell’s long-term recovery remains a priority.“We are all very disappointed for Jacob and we are disappointed that he will not be able to join us this year. It is disappointing to lose a player of his quality, not your captain, so close to the competition, but his long-term fitness should be very important. Everyone at the club wishes him the best with his recovery and we hope to see him back on the field,” said Bond quickly. Bond also confirmed that Donovan Ferreira will take the captaincy, helping South Africa lead the side.“In Donovan Ferreira we have a real leader who knows what it takes to go to the competition. He has won before and he will be a great person for the youngsters in the club to learn from. We are lucky to have someone of stature to step in as captain,” he added.
‘It’s disappointing to miss out’
Injuring himself, Bethell expressed his disappointment at missing out on the tournament, particularly the opportunity to play in front of Birmingham Phoenix supporters at Edgbaston.“It’s disappointing to miss The Hundred, especially to represent Birmingham Phoenix in front of our supporters at Edgbaston. Unfortunately, I need to take some time to get back to fitness,” Bethell said in a statement.
Bethell in The Hundred 2025
Jacob Bethell played a major role for Birmingham Phoenix during The Hundred 2025, which featured eight matches as a central midfielder. He scored 122 runs at 143.53 while picking up three wickets with his left-arm spin, which impressed with his finishing and versatility. His performance in the tournament became a stepping stone to international cricket, leading to his selection in England’s senior white-ball team later that year.