Birmingham Phoenix have suffered a major setback in their campaign at The Hundred Men’s 2026, with star all-rounder Jacob Bethell was recently ruled out of the competition due to injury. The talented England cricketer was expected to play a pivotal role for the Edgbaston-based franchise and was also set to captain the side for the first time in the tournament. However, an untimely fitness issue has forced him to withdraw, leaving Phoenix to reshuffle their plans just before their opening fixture.
Jacob Bethell’s injury ends captaincy opportunity
Bethell’s withdrawal came after he sustained a knee injury during England’s recently concluded ODI series victory over India. The injury was significant enough to rule him out of the entire 2026 edition of The Hundred, dealing a blow not only to Birmingham Phoenix but also to the player himself.
The left-handed batter had been entrusted with the responsibility of leading the franchise this season, making it a landmark moment in his career. Instead, the injury has denied him the chance to captain a Hundred team for the first time, forcing the franchise into a late change only a day before their opening match against Trent Rockets on Friday.
Apart from his leadership role, Bethell’s absence also leaves a gap in Phoenix’s batting lineup. His ability to contribute across multiple phases of the game made him one of the side’s most valuable assets heading into the tournament.
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Replacement announced for Bethell
To strengthen their squad following Bethell’s withdrawal, Birmingham Phoenix have signed Hampshire batter Joe Weatherley as his replacement. The experienced right-handed batter arrives on the back of an outstanding 2026 T20 Blast campaign and will be hoping to carry that form into The Hundred. Weatherley’s selection follows a string of impressive performances for Hampshire Hawks during the business end of the T20 Blast. He played a crucial knock of 46 off just 26 deliveries against Essex in the quarter-finals, helping his side book a place in Finals Day.
The 29-year-old then produced two memorable innings at Edgbaston, the home venue of Birmingham Phoenix. He smashed an unbeaten 88 against Notts Outlaws in the semi-final to guide Hampshire into the final before top-scoring with 75 in the title clash against Northamptonshire Steelbacks. Although Hampshire eventually lost the final by 14 runs, Weatherley’s performances stood out throughout the knockout stages.
His overall numbers in the 2026 T20 Blast further underline his consistency. Weatherley accumulated 591 runs during the season—the highest tally of his domestic T20 career—while averaging close to 50 and maintaining a healthy strike rate of 150.
Also WATCH: The Hundred Men’s 2026 – Rohit Sharma in attendance as MI London beat Sunrisers Leeds in season opener
