England have called the right -handed batsman Tom Banton as a cover for the third ODI against India. The match will be played at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Wednesday. The 26 -year -old Bantton will now reach India on Monday. The official update by England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) states that Banton has been called as a cover of batting all -rounder Jacob Bethel. Bethel has been ruled out of second ODI against India at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack due to hamstring injury.
The ECB also said that Bethel, who had faced defeat in Nagpur and scored a half -century in Nagpur, has suffered a left hamstring injury and his situation will be further assessed when he reaches Ahmedabad on Monday. His participation in the upcoming Champions Trophy has also been in danger due to Bethel’s injury.
Banton scored 134 runs in six ODIs for England, while in 27 T20 matches he scored 327 runs. Banton last played an ODI match for England in August 2020, but he is in great form in T20 franchise cricket. He is currently the highest run -scorer in the IL T20 competition in UAE, where he has scored 493 runs in 11 innings including two centuries for MI Emirates at an average of 54.77.
Bethel is recovering from hamstring injury and Jamie Smith is already suffering from ankle injury, besides Jofra Archer and Bridan Cars have been rested, England lacks players in Cuttack and they have their two in Cuttack Coaching staff members- Paul Callingwood and Marcus Tracothic have to be included in the list of substantial players.
England need to win in Cuttack so that it can avoid the fourth consecutive ODI series defeat and this will be the first defeat in Brendon McCullum’s coaching tenure. England has already lost the T20 series 4–1 on the current tour of India.
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