England given Jacob Bethell boost as uncapped quartet called up for Australia tour

England have been given an injury boost ahead of their white-ball tour of Australia with Jacob Bethell fit to return after knee surgery.

Bethell missed the end of the English summer, including the Test series against Pakistan, after suffering the injury against India in July, but has been cleared to return to action for an eight-match itinerary in November.

Jofra Archer also features in a settled 16-strong one-day international (ODI) squad having been rested for the upcoming tri-series in Pakistan.

Hampshire seamer Eddie Jack and 18-year-old Somerset batter Thomas Rew are handed their first full international call-ups, joining Sussex all-rounder James Coles and Surrey-bound quick Henry Crocombe as an uncapped quartet for the T20 leg of the tour. Crocombe, handed a two-year central contract on Monday, will be part of the ODI squad, too.

Phil Salt and Sam Curran are also fit to return from injury, though Jos Buttler will be absent after undergoing hamstring surgery this week.

Jack and Crocombe’s inclusions come with all of Archer, Gus Atkinson, Sonny Baker and Josh Tongue departing before five T20Is to prepare for the Test tour of South Africa in December – head coach Stephen Fleming’s first series in charge.

Somerset's Thomas Rew is included in the England squad (Getty)

“The returns of Jacob Bethell and Jofra Archer for the ODI series means that we will be at close to full strength as we ramp up preparations for a World Cup in a year’s time,” selector Marcus North explained.

“The four quick bowlers will then leave after the three-game ODI series as we look to manage them ahead of the Test tour of South Africa. Our T20 team has been in excellent form under captain Harry Brook and we are looking forward to the opportunity to test ourselves in Australian conditions against a very good team.

“We will have four uncapped players in an exciting IT20 squad including Thomas Rew and Eddie Jack, both of whom toured Australia with the England Lions last year, and who earn their first England call-ups.”

Derbyshire dasher Aneurin Donald retains his place having shown promise in Salt’s absence at the top of the order. Notably, though, there is no leg-spin cover for a fit-again Adil Rashid, with neither Rehan Ahmed nor Mason Crane included.

England Men ODI squad (16 players):

Harry Brook (Yorkshire – captain), Jofra Archer (Sussex), Gus Atkinson (Surrey), Sonny Baker (Hampshire), Tom Banton (Somerset), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), Jordan Cox (Essex), Henry Crocombe (Surrey), Sam Curran (Surrey), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Ben Duckett (Nottinghamshire), Will Jacks (Surrey), Jamie Overton (Surrey), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Joe Root (Yorkshire), Josh Tongue (Nottinghamshire)

England Men IT20 squad (16 players)

Harry Brook (Yorkshire – Captain), Tom Banton (Somerset), Jacob Bethell (Warwickshire), James Coles (Sussex), Jordan Cox (Essex), Henry Crocombe (Surrey), Sam Curran (Surrey), Liam Dawson (Hampshire), Aneurin Donald (Derbyshire), Eddie Jack (Hampshire), Will Jacks (Surrey), Jamie Overton (Surrey), Adil Rashid (Yorkshire), Thomas Rew (Somerset), Phil Salt (Lancashire), Luke Wood (Lancashire).

England white-ball tour of Australia schedule:

Warm-up match – England XI v Western Australia XI

Saturday 7 November, WACA Ground, Perth – 11.30am

One-Day International Series (all timings are local):

1st ODI: Friday 13 November, Optus Stadium, Perth – 11.30am

2nd ODI: Sunday 15 November, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide – 2pm

3rd ODI: Wednesday 18 November, Bellerive Oval, Hobart – 2.30pm

T20 International Series:

1st T20: Saturday 21 November, MCG, Melbourne – 7.15pm

2nd T20: Tuesday 24 November, Gold Coast Stadium, Gold Coast – 6.15pm

3rd T20: Friday 27 November, The Gabba, Brisbane – 6.15pm

4th T20: Sunday 29 November, SCG, Sydney – 7.15pm