Jacob Bethell’s chanceless maiden Test century on Wednesday lit a faint hope for England in the final Ashes Test. At the close of day four at the Sydney Cricket Ground, England were 302‑8, with Bethell unbeaten on 142 and Matthew Potts yet to bat, forging a fragile 119‑run second‑innings lead.England hunger for a morale‑boosting win after their Melbourne triumph, but Australia sit 3‑1 up and have already retained the Ashes.
The 22‑year‑old kept the dream alive after Zak Crawley fell early and Joe Root went cheaply. He raced to his hundred off 162 balls with a lofted four over mid‑wicket. “It’s pretty special, it hasn’t sunk in yet,” Bethell told reporters, eyes on his parents in the stands. “To do that with family here was very special. My dad was a cricketer, he knows the feeling but it doesn’t stop him from being nervous.”It was his first red‑ball ton – previous best 96 vs New Zealand – and came after a gritty 40 at Melbourne replacing under‑performing Ollie Pope. While Bethell anchored, wickets tumbled elsewhere: Harry Brook lbw 42, Will Jacks caught 0 in three balls to part‑time off‑spinner Beau Webster (3‑51).
Webster noted the pitch had started turning: “There was wear from Starc’s footmarks and we made the most of it.”A Jamie Smith run‑out (24) broke a 45‑run sixth‑wicket stand, and Ben Stokes came in at No. 8 with the score 264‑6, lasting just five balls. Australia were bowled out for 567 (Travis Head 163, Steve Smith 138), taking a 183‑run first‑innings lead. Mitchell Starc opened England’s chase with his 29th series wicket, dismissing Crawley with a beauty. Ben Duckett was dropped at 38 but fell for 42, Root was terrorised by Starc & Neser and fell lbw to Scott Boland for 6.Now Bethell must shepherd the tail on day five. “I have to be smart letting Pottsy and Josh Tongue come in,” he said. “Just hit the gaps – big outfield, plenty of space.”