Donovan Ferreira will captain Birmingham Phoenix in The Hundred after Jacob Bethell was ruled out with a knee injury.
The change comes just before Birmingham Phoenix open their campaign against Trent Rockets on Friday at 18:30 BST at Edgbaston. Bethell had been expected to lead the side after being retained earlier this year for £340,000, but the knee issue has forced a late switch at the top.
Why the captaincy changed
Bethell sustained the injury during the recent one-day international series against India. He had an MRI scan on Monday, and the decision means he will miss The Hundred entirely. It is a frustrating setback for a 22-year-old who has already been viewed as a future England leader.
That view has grown because Bethell had already captained England in a T20 series against Ireland last year, and he was coming off a strong showing at Lord's on Sunday. In the series decider, he was player of the match after scoring 91 and taking 1-49.
What Ferreira brings
Ferreira arrives with useful experience of success in the competition, having previously been part of a Hundred-winning side with Oval Invincibles. That background makes him a logical replacement at a time when Birmingham Phoenix need stability as the season begins.
The captaincy change is a reminder of how quickly plans can shift in the build-up to a tournament. Birmingham Phoenix had retained Bethell with the expectation that he would be central to their season, but now Ferreira takes over with the opening match only days away. England's Test series against Pakistan starts on 19 August, adding another layer to the timing around Bethell's injury and England's wider schedule.
