England batter Jacob Bethell has suffered a left hamstring injury, putting his participation in the ICC Champions Trophy in doubt.

Bethell, 21, sustained the problem after scoring 51 batting at No 6 in the four-wicket defeat to India in the first ODI in Nagpur and will be assessed further in Ahmedabad on Monday.

England begin their Champions Trophy campaign – live on Sky Sports – against Australia on Saturday February 22, before further group matches versus Afghanistan (February 26) and South Africa (March 1).

Tom Banton, 26, has been called up as cover for England’s third ODI against India on Wednesday.

Banton, who last played for England in an ODI in August 2020, has been in outstanding form in the UAE ILT20 competition, ending up as leading run-scorer after amassing 493 runs from 11 innings at an average of 54.77, with two centuries and three fifties.

Bethell’s absence would be big Champions Trophy blow

Bethell only made his England debut in September but has featured 22 times in all formats, racking up two fifties apiece in ODI and T20I cricket as well as three half-centuries during his maiden Test tour of New Zealand.

Should the left-hander miss the Champions Trophy it would be a big blow for England as he also offers a left-arm spin-bowling option, while he is a superb fielder, too.

Bethell showed excellent patience with the bat in the first ODI against India as only he and captain Jos Buttler posted scores of note, with former England wicketkeeper Matt Prior telling TNT Sports: “He strikes me as a very similar character as Joe Root when he first came into the team.

“Yes, he has the ability, yes, he has the shots, but the mental side of the game and the maturity that he showed in this innings was very similar to a young Root.

“I know that is a big comment but you say it as you see it. There were more experienced cricketers in this England batting line-up that didn’t bat with that maturity.

“He looked like he had been playing a long time in India. He had a game-plan and had the confidence to stick to it.”

Wicketkeeper-batter Jamie Smith, sidelined since midway through the T20 series with a calf problem, could return in Ahmedabad on Wednesday but with the Champions Trophy looming England are unlikely to take any major risks.

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