Bethell shines for England but Webster spins Australia to brink of victory

2 months ago 22

Jacob Bethell’s outstanding maiden first-class hundred was the glue in an admirable England fightback at the SCG, before a three-wicket haul from Beau Webster underlined the value of spin on a deteriorating surface in the final Ashes Test.

England avoided the prospect of an innings defeat by compiling 8-302 in their second innings, a lead of 119 runs, thanks largely to a coming-of-age century from 22-year-old Bethell, who became the youngest England batsman to score a Test hundred against Australia at the SCG.

The only other players to post a Test century at the SCG before turning 23 this century are Salman Butt (2005), KL Rahul (2015), Matt Renshaw (2017) and Rishabh Pant (2019).

Australia had earlier been bowled out for 567, with England captain Ben Stokes forced from the field with an adductor injury.

Webster’s bid to take Cameron Green’s place in the Australian XI received a major boost on Wednesday when he struck 71 not out from No.9 before snaring two wickets in three balls with his underrated off breaks to halt England’s momentum.

Australia have been heavily criticised for not playing a spinner and the sight of Webster’s double-wicket over was evidence that, even for a part-timer, there was enough purchase in the SCG surface to justify the inclusion of a tweaker.

Australia celebrate after Beau Webster struck to dismiss England captain Ben Stokes.

In the 50th over of England’s second innings, Webster removed Harry Brook for 42 with a gorgeous delivery that spun sharply from outside off stump and struck Brook on the back leg. Australia reviewed the on-field not out decision, with DRS showing three reds and prompting a jubilant celebration from Webster and his teammates.

When Will Jacks slogged Webster into the leg side and was superbly caught for a duck by Green – who had earlier dropped Ben Duckett at second slip – England slipped to 5-219, their lead trimmed to 36.

Webster finished the day with 3-51 from 13 overs, his best figures in a Test, to push Australia to the cusp of a victory that would secure a 4-1 series scoreline. Provided there is no day-five disaster, Thursday shapes as a modest run chase.

England’s shining light, however, was Bethell, who reached stumps unbeaten on 142. despite being involved in a disastrous run-out with Jamie Smith (26).

Jacob Bethell celebrates his maiden Test ton.

Bethell played just four first-class matches last year, making scores of 20 and 12 for Warwickshire against Somerset in June before playing the fifth Test between England and India at the Oval.

He featured for the England Lions against Australia A last month before getting the call-up for the Boxing Day Test.

Highly regarded within England’s set-up – largely for his white-ball prowess – Bethell has been limited in the amount of red-ball cricket he has played.

“There’s so much other cricket going on around the world that I don’t get to play as much first-class cricket as I potentially would like,” Bethell said at a press conference after play on Tuesday.

“I do like playing for Warwickshire and going back home to them, but I think it doesn’t really have to be first-class cricket if I am playing cricket all year round.”

Jacob Bethell plays a shot off the back foot on his way to an unbeaten 142.

Bethell’s 673 runs at 23.17 from 20 matches for Warwickshire hardly pointed to a maiden Test century in Australia, though the peroxide blond hair and free-flowing approach gave Kevin Pietersen 2005 Ashes vibes.

Coming in at No.3, Bethell became the fifth Englishman – and first specialist batsman – to score his maiden first-class hundred in a Test, following Henry Wood, Jack Russell, Stuart Broad and Gus Atkinson. The last Australian to achieve the feat was Mitchell Johnson against South Africa in 2009.

Ian Botham labelled Bethell a “star of the future”, while Broad described him as a “diamond” England had unearthed.

That the century came in a dead rubber is a minor asterisk, but Bethell will return to Australia better equipped and armed with the tools to counter an attack that could look very different next time.

Only Alastair Cook, at 21 years and 357 days, has scored an Ashes hundred for England in Australia at a younger age.

“Some of his strokeplay has been as good as we’ve seen from anyone,” said former Australian captain Ricky Ponting on Seven. “I can’t imagine what his heart rate would’ve been when he was on 99.”

The state of play means outgoing opener Usman Khawaja remains a chance to spend time in the middle on day five, with speculation he could open the batting with a fairytale finish on the table.