England cricketer Matt Bethell has withdrawn from this summer’s Hundred competition due to an injury, marking a significant setback for both the player and his franchise, Birmingham Phoenix. Bethell, who has been heavily involved in international fixtures over the past two months—including three Tests, five T20s, and three One Day Internationals—is set to remain sidelined to prevent further aggravation of his injury, though scans have not indicated a severe underlying issue.
Bethell was retained by Birmingham Phoenix on a £340,000 contract and appointed as captain for the tournament. The team is jointly owned by Warwickshire County Cricket Club and Knighthead Capital, the owners of Birmingham City football club, with England footballer Jude Bellingham holding a minority stake. The franchise’s opening match is scheduled for Friday night against Trent Rockets, for which South African player Donovan Ferreira has been named as the new captain.
In a statement, Bethell expressed his disappointment at missing the Hundred, particularly given the opportunity to represent Birmingham Phoenix at Edgbaston in front of supportive home crowds. He emphasized his commitment to rehabilitation and returning to full fitness.
Meanwhile, the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is intensifying efforts to appoint a new head coach for the England Test team following the recent dismissal of Brendon McCullum. The governing body’s preferred candidate, former Zimbabwe coach Andy Flower, withdrew from consideration last week, opting to remain involved in T20 franchise cricket.
The search has now broadened, with informal discussions ongoing this week involving several candidates. Among English prospects are Jonathan Trott, currently a consultant coach with Ireland, and Richard Dawson, who heads coaching at Glamorgan. Overseas candidates gaining attention include Tom Moody, the global director of cricket for the Lucknow Super Giants franchise and a three-time Hundred title-winning coach with Oval Invincibles. Moody’s current role is highly lucrative and influential, overseeing multiple franchises owned by Lucknow, and it remains uncertain whether he would be interested in the England position.
Other names linked to the role include Stephen Fleming, recently departed from Chennai Super Kings’ head coaching role, Justin Langer, currently a coach at Manchester Super Giants under Moody, and Kumar Sangakkara, who is currently a cricket pundit with Sky Sports.
The ECB has indicated it is willing to take a measured approach in the appointment process, given that the England Test series against Pakistan is set to begin in under four weeks. Unless a candidate can assume the role immediately, England may need to consider appointing an interim coach for the upcoming series.