Birmingham Phoenix have suffered a significant setback of their marketing campaign at The Hundred Males’s 2026, with star all-rounder Jacob Bethell was lately dominated out of the competitors on account of damage. The proficient England cricketer was anticipated to play a pivotal position for the Edgbaston-based franchise and was additionally set to captain the facet for the primary time within the event. Nevertheless, an premature health situation has pressured him to withdraw, leaving Phoenix to reshuffle their plans simply earlier than their opening fixture.
Jacob Bethell’s damage ends captaincy alternative
Bethell’s withdrawal got here after he sustained a knee damage throughout England’s lately concluded ODI sequence victory over India. The damage was important sufficient to rule him out of the complete 2026 version of The Hundred, dealing a blow not solely to Birmingham Phoenix but additionally to the participant himself.
The left-handed batter had been entrusted with the accountability of main the franchise this season, making it a landmark second in his profession. As an alternative, the damage has denied him the prospect to captain a Hundred group for the primary time, forcing the franchise right into a late change solely a day earlier than their opening match towards Trent Rockets on Friday.
Aside from his management position, Bethell’s absence additionally leaves a niche in Phoenix’s batting lineup. His skill to contribute throughout a number of phases of the sport made him one of many facet’s most dear property heading into the event.
Additionally WATCH: The Hundred Men’s 2026 – Rohit Sharma in attendance as MI London beat Sunrisers Leeds in season opener
Alternative introduced for Bethell
To strengthen their squad following Bethell’s withdrawal, Birmingham Phoenix have signed Hampshire batter Joe Weatherley as his alternative. The skilled right-handed batter arrives on the again of an impressive 2026 T20 Blast marketing campaign and will probably be hoping to hold that kind into The Hundred. Weatherley’s choice follows a string of spectacular performances for Hampshire Hawks throughout the enterprise finish of the T20 Blast. He performed an important knock of 46 off simply 26 deliveries towards Essex within the quarter-finals, serving to his facet e book a spot in Finals Day.
The 29-year-old then produced two memorable innings at Edgbaston, the house venue of Birmingham Phoenix. He smashed an unbeaten 88 towards Notts Outlaws within the semi-final to information Hampshire into the ultimate earlier than top-scoring with 75 within the title conflict towards Northamptonshire Steelbacks. Though Hampshire finally misplaced the ultimate by 14 runs, Weatherley’s performances stood out all through the knockout phases.
His general numbers within the 2026 T20 Blast additional underline his consistency. Weatherley amassed 591 runs throughout the season—the very best tally of his home T20 profession—whereas averaging near 50 and sustaining a wholesome strike price of 150.
Additionally WATCH: The Hundred Men’s 2026 – Rohit Sharma in attendance as MI London beat Sunrisers Leeds in season opener
