Ben Stokes is set to spend the final day of this Ashes tour watching on from the old pavilion at the SCG and hoping for a miracle in his absence after seeing yet another Test series cut short by injury.
The all-rounder had worked hard to get through all five Tests in Australia only to fall at the final hurdle, limping off 10 balls into his opening spell on the fourth morning in apparent distress. An England spokesperson later confirmed it was an issue with his right abductor (groin).
Stokes did bat later in the day, emerging at No 8 but falling for one after struggling to move at the crease. The upshot is that when England come to defend a target on the final day – their lead was 119 overnight, eight wickets down – they will do so without their seam-bowling captain.
“I don’t know the exact injury, but he’s moving pretty gingerly,” said Jacob Bethell, who was unbeaten on 142 overnight and will be tasked with swelling the final total that Australia need to claim a 4-1 series win. “I don’t think that bodes too well for him bowling tomorrow.”
As for his own day, having left his parents, Graham and Giselle, in tears in the Brewongle Stand after registering his maiden first-class century and thwarting Australia’s attack, Bethell played it as cool as he appeared out in the middle.
Asked if his near-miss 96 in New Zealand last winter had weighed on his mind, the 22-year-old replied: “Not really. I knew it was coming.
“It’s just nice to get over that milestone, it still hasn’t sunk in. It gives me a lot of confidence to keep doing it, especially as people will stop talking about it. I got a [one-day international] hundred in the summer and I’ve had to wait a while to raise the bat again but it’s an addictive feeling. It’s pretty special.”
When later shown the celebrations of his family, Bethell accepted: “That’s pretty special. [Dad] is actually quite emotional. I didn’t know he would be that emotional, but it is pretty cool to see that.”
