England have suffered another injury setback ahead of their white-ball tour of Australia, with Jacob Bethell the latest player to be sent home due to injury.
Just days after paceman Josh Tongue was ruled out of the upcoming three-match ODI series due to a toe injury, England confirmed on Wednesday that Bethell would also return home after injuring his right knee again.
Tongue was only named for the ODI series, while Bethell was set to take part in both the ODIs and five-match T20 series.
Allrounder James Coles and uncapped paceman Eddie Jack have been named as their replacements.
Bethell, who last played in July, arrived in Australia hoping to complete the final stages of his recovery from surgery to his right knee.
But the 23-year-old rising star suffered a setback at training in Perth earlier this week, with England deciding to send him home.
Bethell now faces a race against time to prove his fitness for the Test tour of South Africa, which starts in December.
"With a busy winter ahead, it was decided that he will return to the UK on Saturday before seeing a specialist," England said in a statement.
The three-match ODI series starts at Perth's Optus Stadium on Friday.
