Jacob Bethell has been ruled out of England's white-ball tour of Australia after suffering a setback in his recovery from a right knee injury. The 23-year-old will return home to see a specialist, and his availability for England's Test series in South Africa is now in doubt.

Bethell had been due to make his comeback on the tour, which begins with the first one-day international in Perth on Friday, 13 November. Instead, he will fly back to the United Kingdom on Saturday, having been withdrawn from both the one-day and Twenty20 squads.

What happened in Perth

Bethell sustained the setback during a training session in Perth earlier this week. A scan confirmed the problem, and England decided to withdraw him from the tour rather than risk further damage. He had not played in England's warm-up match against Western Australia at the weekend.

The all-rounder has not played for England since the final one-day international against India at The Kia Oval in July, when he first felt discomfort in his right knee. The injury required surgery, and he had only recently returned to England's one-day squad after completing his rehabilitation.

Bethell is a left-handed batter who also bowls slow left-arm spin, and he had been expected to play a central part in the white-ball leg of the tour. His withdrawal is a significant blow to a squad already missing several players through injury.

England's replacements

England have called up Sussex all-rounder James Coles and uncapped Hampshire seamer Eddie Jack into the one-day squad. Coles replaces Bethell, while Jack comes in for fast bowler Josh Tongue, who had already been ruled out of the tour with a big toe injury.

Both replacements are expected to arrive in Perth on Thursday, the day before the series opener. Jack and Coles were already part of England's Twenty20 party for the tour, so they are familiar with the squad and the conditions.

England begin the three-match one-day series against Australia on 13 November in Perth, with the remaining games scheduled for 15 November in Adelaide and 18 November in Hobart. Five Twenty20 internationals follow, running from 21 November in Melbourne to 2 December in Canberra.

Doubt over South Africa Tests

The setback also raises questions about Bethell's place in England's Test squad for South Africa. He was named on Monday in the squad for the three-match series, which begins on 17 December, but that selection is now uncertain until he has been assessed by a specialist.

England have opted for a cautious approach given the busy winter schedule ahead, and no recovery timeframe has been given. For now, Bethell's immediate focus is on getting a clear picture of the knee problem and starting the next stage of his rehabilitation at home.

The tour will go ahead without him, and England's selectors will hope the replacements can make the most of an unexpected opportunity against Australia.