It was good. So good. So unbelievably good. On the penultimate day of a tour packed with regret for England, a star was born as Jacob Bethell, 22 years young, compiled a truly golden hundred that offered hope for the future.
There were no histrionics upon getting there either, no suggestion this was a maiden first-class century compiled in the heat of an Ashes Test. Instead, having skipped down to the off-spin of Beau Webster and belted a four, he reacted like an old pro – albeit one with parents welling up in the stands.
There was also no reason why England should collapse to defeat on this sun-soaked fourth day. But there was every reason to think they could anyway. Worn down by Australia over the course of two months, starting their second innings 183 behind and with the departure lounge calling, they certainly looked ripe for it. And not least with Ben Stokes once again injured.
Yet by the close, even with a couple more brain-fade dismissals along the way to leave a 4-1 series win loading for Australia, England had made it to 302 for eight with a lead of 119 runs. Still breathing, therefore, and all thanks to a gum-chewing rookie with zinc cream on his cheeks and ice in his veins.
It was not just the numbers next to Bethell’s name when he walked off unbeaten on 142 from 232 balls, rather the manner in which he achieved these over five hours at the crease. This was pure spun silk, elegance personified, his 15 fours made up of back-foot punches, drives, and pull shots. Each one was struck with Swiss-clock precision and interspersed with diligent defence.
There was courage under fire, too, Bethell copping a nasty blow to the head from Cameron Green and dropping like Woody in Toy Story when the humans walk in. But Bethell won the battle with five fours, each one racing out of the middle. And he coolly navigated 24 balls in the nervous nineties, with the four overthrows that came his way on 87 the only thing gifted all day.
No specialist England batter had previously scored their maiden first-class century in a Test match, just a handful of wicketkeepers and bowlers. And yet it remains a head-scratcher as to why England parked Bethell for much of 2025 when that arrival in New Zealand last winter had them all purring. For a team that claims to embrace risk, their loyalty to Ollie Pope was conservative.
Still, Bethell has now arrived in Test cricket and if nothing else on this bleak tour, England have found a No 3 with the required temperament. It was certainly needed at first drop here, Bethell walking out to the middle after Zak Crawley’s series ended much like it started: dismissed during Mitchell Starc’s latest thunderous first over, albeit this time lbw shouldering arms.
Bethell left and repelled much of what came his way, untroubled by the loss of Ben Duckett for 42 – the opener’s highest score on tour – and Joe Root for a slightly tortured six from 37 balls. Scott Boland was once again showing up England’s quicks here, figures of two for 34 from 19 overs constricting all-comers by hitting that handkerchief length over and over again.
Although on a day headlined by a newcomer, it was a journeyman who turned things for Australia. Fresh from an unbeaten 71 that had applied the finishing touches to his side’s 567 all out, the giant Webster swapped his seamers for off-breaks and winkled out three key wickets after tea.
Having led in the morning after Stokes limped off with a groin injury, Harry Brook was one half of a stand worth 102 runs, with thoughts of his frustrating tour ending on a high note also percolating. But on 42 he played back to one that spun sharply, lbw on review. When Will Jacks holed out trying to launch a six second ball, England were effectively 32 for five.
Enter Jamie Smith, initially atoning for his first innings self-immolation with 26 runs in a stand worth 52. But when the Marnus Labuschagne bumper plan was finally enacted he ended up red-faced once more, run out after a mix up in communication with Bethell but at least sparing the set man.
Out hobbled Stokes, this his fifth Test series in a row to end with an injury and his final contribution a wafted edge to slip off Webster fifth ball that underlined his struggle to move. Unlikely to bowl on the final day, all he could do was return to the pavilion, watch Boland shut down Brydon Carse for a handy 16, and stew on his team’s predicament at large.
Stokes possibly saw a bit of himself in Bethell out there as he did so; shades of his own emergence during the whitewash of 2013-14 and that statement century in Perth. On another Ashes tour that has ended with precious little to write home about, here was a genuine reason to crack a smile.
