Jacob Bethell could return from a knee injury for England’s first one-day international against Australia in Perth on Friday, which would leave a difficult choice over who misses out. Tom Banton and Ben Duckett have opened in his absence, and England’s top-order selection is a good problem to have.
England remain ranked a lowly eighth in the world in the 50-over format, with the 2027 Cricket World Cup in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia less than a year away. Their ODI form has largely improved this year, until their tri-series trouble in Pakistan in October. The squad looks settled as it prepares for three ODIs and five T20 internationals in Australia.
Do England stick with the status quo?
Bethell has long been viewed as England’s future. He hit a superb maiden ODI century in a win over South Africa to close the 2025 summer, then followed it with further hundreds in the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney and the 2026 T20 World Cup semi-final against India.
England moved him up to open during the ODI series against India this summer. He capped the series with 91 off 93 balls, part of a huge 192-run opening stand with Duckett that helped the hosts clinch the series.
A knee injury has sidelined Bethell since, and Banton has seized his chance. The 27-year-old has averaged 56.28 in seven innings as an opener, with four fifties and a superb 126 off 105 balls against Sri Lanka at The Oval. Banton and Duckett average 71 together as a partnership. Duckett signed off the tri-series with back-to-back hundreds, his third century in his last eight ODIs. Duckett’s place is secure, but Banton’s position is less clear.
Banton could receive another opportunity, and Bethell may not return straight away. Bethell did not play in the warm-up match against Western Australia at the weekend, with Duckett (59) and Banton (14) opening once again.
Could Bethell return for someone else?
Bethell may not displace Banton at the top of the order, but he could still play in Australia. Jos Buttler is missing the tour with a hamstring injury, and Jordan Cox is expected to fill the middle-order role and keep wicket. England are eager to give Cox a more regular place, but he struggled in Pakistan, scoring a top score of 43 from four matches, though he did not bat in one of them.
England could drop Cox, ask Banton to keep wicket and bring Bethell into the side. Bethell would offer a left-handed option among a line-up of right-handers from Joe Root down, with Sam Curran at No 6 or 7 the only exception. His presence would also give Australian captain Mitch Marsh more problems with his field placings. This route would also let England delay the Banton-Bethell decision until Buttler returns.
The drawback is that Banton keeping wicket across 50 overs would be an unfamiliar and unfair task, especially while he also opens the batting. Banton is a capable understudy and has kept wicket in T20 cricket, but ODIs are a different test.
What about Bethell as an extra spinner?
This is the least likely route back into the side. Bethell first earned his ODI place batting at No 7 and bowling left-arm spin. England played just two spinners in Pakistan, with Adil Rashid left out for much of the tri-series in favour of Liam Dawson and Will Jacks. England are unlikely to change that approach in Australia, or for next year’s World Cup.
Curran’s form and fitness are a concern, however. He missed the end of the summer with a groin injury that required surgery. In Pakistan, he was underused and expensive when he did bowl. He took four wickets at 54.75 across four matches. In Rawalpindi, he conceded an England ODI-record 103 from nine overs as Sri Lanka chased down a huge 430. Curran may benefit from time out of the side to rebuild, which could open a spot for Bethell. However, Bethell’s batting talent would be wasted at No 7 or 8.
England could manage without Curran, with Jofra Archer, Gus Atkinson and Jamie Overton as their pace options. The tourists would most likely take that route only to bring Rashid back alongside Dawson and Jacks. In that case, everyone would move up a place, Overton would bat at No 7, and Bethell would again sit on the bench.
England will be delighted to have Bethell back in the squad, but the bench appears to be his most likely place in Australia, at least for now.
Schedule for England’s tour of Australia
ODIs start at 3.30am UK time, and T20 internationals at 8.15am UK time.
- First ODI: Friday, November 13 (Perth)
- Second ODI: Sunday, November 15 (Adelaide)
- Third ODI: Wednesday, November 18 (Hobart)
- First T20I: Saturday, November 21 (Melbourne)
- Second T20I: Tuesday, November 24 (Carrara)
- Third T20I: Friday, November 27 (Brisbane)
- Fourth T20I: Sunday, November 29 (Sydney)
- Fifth T20I: Wednesday, December 2 (Canberra)