Bethell to return to UK after injuring finger in IPL

Jacob Bethell is set to return to the UK after the 22-year-old sustained an injury to his left ring finger while playing for the Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) in the Indian Premier League (IPL), the ECB has confirmed.

The England all-rounder missed RCB's IPL clash against Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday, with the ECB confirming that he "will be fully assessed and monitored by the England Men's medical team on his return to determine his availability for selection for the Rothesay first Test against New Zealand."

The ECB confirmed that the agreement for Bethell to return was made in agreement with RCB.

'The right thing for me right now' - Bethell responds to IPL stint criticism

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The 22-year-old's last game for RCB came on May 17, with the Englishman arriving at the crease to open the batting alongside Virat Kohli, but would ultimately be dismissed for 11 runs from seven deliveries. RCB would go on to claim a 23-run victory.

The all-rounder has enjoyed a mixed season in the IPL, notably being dismissed for five against the Gujarat Titans last month, before being caught for four by Lucknow Super Giants' Yadav Prince a week later.

Bethell had struggled for game time early on in the IPL season. The England No 3 batter was unused through RCB's first six matches, with Sir Alaistair Cook urging the 22-year-old Warwickshire player to return home to play for his county.

The England and Wales Cricket Board has agreed with Royal Challengers Bangalore that top-order batter Jacob Bethell will return to the UK after sustaining a left ring finger injury while playing in the Indian Premier League.

He will be fully… pic.twitter.com/ruEFdDPIqf

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"Ideally, he could come back and open for Warwickshire to help England."

Former England batter Kevin Pietersen hit back at Cook's comments on X, writing: "

"Alastair Cook has absolutely NO IDEA what it's like to be in the IPL," Pietersen wrote on X. "What it's like to always be around the best players in the world.

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