<\/p>\n
England\u2019s top-order batter Jacob Bethell will return to the UK to be \u201cfully assessed\u201d on the finger injury he picked up playing in the Indian Premier League.<\/p>\n
Bethell was missing from the Royal Challengers Bengaluru side which lost to Sunrisers Hyderabad on Friday, with the captain, Rajat Patidar, confirming the 22-year-old had damaged his finger.<\/p>\n RCB did not provide any further information on the extent of the problem, but Bethell\u2019s omission does raise some alarm bells less than two weeks before England\u2019s first Test of the summer against New Zealand starting on 4 June.<\/p>\n The England and Wales Cricket<\/a> Board confirmed on Saturday afternoon Bethell would have further checks once he had returned home. A statement read: \u201cThe 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.<\/p>\n \u201cHe will be fully assessed and monitored by the England men\u2019s medical team on his return to determine his availability for selection for the first Test against New Zealand at Lord\u2019s.\u201d<\/p>\n Bethell is inked in to bat at No 3 having struck a superb century at Sydney<\/a> in the final Ashes Test in January, but RCB\u2019s involvement in the IPL playoffs mean he was already due to miss next week\u2019s training camp in Loughborough.<\/p>\n Should Bethell not be fit to face New Zealand, then Somerset\u2019s James Rew would be in line for his debut, having been included in the squad<\/a> as batting and wicketkeeping cover. Jofra Archer is already missing the Lord\u2019s Test against New Zealand due to his stint with Rajasthan Royals. He will return to England too late to be considered and is instead targeting the second Test at the Oval.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n