Bethell has been ruled out of this year’s Hundred due to a knee injury from England’s ODI series against India, casting doubt on his readiness for England’s forthcoming Test series against Pakistan.

Donovan Ferreira will captain Birmingham Phoenix in Bethell’s absence, with the coach praising Ferreira’s leadership and experience.

Bethell was named Birmingham Phoenix captain for the season, but an MRI has not revealed a return date yet.

Team officials say long-term fitness comes first, and Ferreira’s appointment should help the side move forward.

Bethell defended his IPL decision, saying there’s no right or wrong way to develop as a player and that IPL training with top players remains beneficial even without regular playing time.

During the tournament Bethell has tallied 298 runs in 20 appearances at 21.28 with a strike rate of 133.63.

Bethell’s 2025 Hundred campaign for Birmingham Phoenix featured 122 runs at 143.53 SR and three wickets in eight matches, boosting his profile for international selection.

Ben Stokes continues to skip The Hundred this year, opting to play for Durham in domestic one-day competitions.

The ECB had hoped Bethell would gain valuable leadership experience from The Hundred, highlighting long-term leadership prospects for England.

The Hundred 2026 kicks off at The Oval with MI London vs Manchester Super Giants, both clubs rebranded after new ownership deals.

The opening match at The Oval marks new ownership identities for MI London (Mumbai Indians group) and Manchester Super Giants (Sanjiv Goenka group).

Bethell withdrew from The Hundred to focus on rehabilitation and recovery from his knee injury.