🏏🔥 Bethell’s Maiden Test Ton Keeps England Afloat Despite Late Collapse on Day 4
🇦🇺 vs 🇬🇧 Ashes Test at the SCG | A Day of Hope, Hurt, and High Drama
Test cricket rarely offers comfort without consequence, and Day 4 at the Sydney Cricket Ground was a brutal reminder of that truth for England. Just when it seemed they might finally wrest control, familiar demons returned. Yet amid the chaos, uncertainty, and collapsing wickets, Jacob Bethell produced a defining innings of courage and class—his maiden Test and first-class century—to keep England alive in this gripping Ashes contest.
England ended the day at 302/8, leading by 119 runs, a position that feels both promising and perilous. The scorecard may say advantage England, but the rhythm of the game still whispers Australia.
This was a day that had everything:
- A record-laden Australian first innings
- Ben Stokes limping through injury
- A young batter announcing himself on the grandest stage
- Another England collapse that threatens to undo all the hard work
Welcome to Ashes cricket at its most unforgiving.
🌅 Morning Session: Australia Tighten the Noose Before Unravelling
Australia resumed Day 4 on 518/7, firmly in command after a dominant third day. The SCG pitch, though beginning to show variable bounce, still offered value for disciplined batting.
🔗 Smith & Webster: Calm Before the Storm
Steve Smith and Beau Webster extended their partnership beyond 100 runs with composure. Smith, already into three figures, looked immovable, while Webster completed a deserved half-century—mixing patience with precision.
England’s hopes looked thin, especially when Ben Stokes left the field injured, later confirmed to be suffering from a right adductor strain. For a captain already battling form and fitness, it was a worrying sight.
But Test cricket is a game of sudden shifts.
⚡ Josh Tongue Sparks England’s Revival
Just when Australia appeared set to push past 600, Josh Tongue delivered a decisive spell.
🔥 Collapse in Numbers:
- Smith edged Tongue in the 129th over
- Starc followed soon after
- Boland fell for a golden duck
Australia added only 49 runs in the morning session before being bowled out for 567.
From 518/7 to all out—England had clawed back momentum, at least briefly.
🧮 Australia First Innings: A Statement Total
Australia’s 567 was built on:
- Travis Head’s blazing 163
- Steve Smith’s masterful 138
- Valuable contributions from Webster (71) and Green (37)
England’s bowlers toiled hard, with Tongue (3 wickets) and Carse (3 wickets) standing out, but the damage had already been done.
A 183-run deficit loomed large.
😤 England’s Second Innings: Familiar Frustrations Begin Early
If England needed a solid start, they got the opposite.
💥 Starc Strikes Again
For the fourth time in the series, Mitchell Starc struck in the opening over—trapping Zak Crawley lbw. Crawley’s struggles continued, and England were instantly on the back foot.
At 4/1, the ghosts of collapses past returned.
🤝 Duckett & Bethell: A Partnership of Purpose
Enter Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell, two left-handers who injected urgency and intent.
Their 81-run stand was England’s first real foothold in the innings.
- Duckett drove fearlessly through the covers
- Bethell began cautiously but grew in authority
After drinks, England surged, smashing nine boundaries between overs 11 and 15. The pitch was misbehaving, but England counter-punched.
🪖 Courage Under Fire
Bethell was struck on the helmet by a Cameron Green bouncer—a reminder of the hostility of Ashes cricket—but he responded with composure, not fear.
England reached lunch at 80/1, momentum finally swinging their way.
💔 Post-Lunch Collapse: Duckett and Root Depart
Momentum, however, has been England’s most fragile asset.
Duckett’s Ashes ended when he chopped on off Michael Neser for 42. Shortly after, Joe Root, fresh from a majestic first-innings 160, looked unusually tentative.
Root scored just 6 off 37 balls before being trapped lbw by Scott Boland. A review confirmed the decision on umpire’s call.
From 80/1 to 117/3, England wobbled again.
🌟 Jacob Bethell Takes Centre Stage
While others faltered, Jacob Bethell stood tall.
🧠 A Mature Innings Beyond His Years
Batting with Harry Brook, Bethell showcased:
- Soft hands against the new ball
- Strong defense against Boland
- Intelligent rotation of strike
By tea, England were 174/3, and the deficit was nearly erased.
💯 Maiden Test Century: A Career-Defining Moment
Bethell’s march to three figures was tense, methodical, and emotional.
He waited nervously in the nineties before carving a boundary off Beau Webster to reach his maiden Test century—his first in first-class cricket.
At just 20 years old, Bethell had delivered when England needed it most.
🌀 Collapse Returns: Webster Turns the Tide
Just as England threatened to seize control, Beau Webster’s off-spin changed the narrative.
- Harry Brook was trapped lbw after a successful review
- Will Jacks fell two balls later for a duck
From 219/3, England slid to 219/5—a familiar pattern of self-sabotage.
🚑 Stokes Struggles, Smith Falls, Carse Fights
Jamie Smith and Bethell briefly steadied the innings with a 45-run stand, but another lapse ended Smith’s stay—run out after a mix-up.
A clearly injured Ben Stokes arrived but could barely move. He fell cheaply, caught sharply at slip.
England collapsed from 219/3 to 267/7.
Brydon Carse counter-attacked briefly before edging Boland, but England’s tail was exposed once again.
🌙 Stumps: Bethell Stands Alone
At stumps:
- England: 302/8
- Lead: 119 runs
- Jacob Bethell: 142*
Boland beat Bethell’s outside edge twice late in the day, underlining the tension heading into Day 5.
England are ahead—but only just.
🧠 Cricketing Analysis: What This Day Really Means
✅ Positives for England:
- Bethell’s composure and resilience
- Lead of 119 on a wearing pitch
- Australia batting last
⚠️ Major Concerns:
- Another middle-order collapse
- Stokes’ fitness
- Fragile top order
Australia will fancy chasing anything under 250. England must add at least 80–100 runs quickly on Day 5 to feel safe.
🔮 Day 5 Scenarios
- England target: 200+ lead minimum
- Australia advantage: Familiarity with SCG chases
Key battles:
- Bethell vs Boland
- Lyon/Webster vs England tail
- England bowlers vs Head & Smith (if needed)
This Test is balanced on a knife-edge.
❓ FAQs
❓ Who scored the century for England on Day 4?
A: Jacob Bethell scored his maiden Test century.
❓ What is England’s lead at stumps on Day 4?
A: England lead by 119 runs.
❓ Is Ben Stokes injured?
A: Yes, he is struggling with a right adductor strain.
❓ Who were Australia’s top scorers?
A: Travis Head (163) and Steve Smith (138).
❓ Can England still win this Test?
A: Yes, but only if they extend their lead significantly on Day 5.
England Collapse Again… But a 20-Year-Old’s Maiden Test Ton Shocks Australia at the SCG!
🏁 Final Verdict: Hope with a Warning Label
Jacob Bethell gave England belief.
But belief alone does not win Ashes Tests.
England have been here before—moments of brilliance undone by moments of carelessness. Day 5 will decide whether Bethell’s masterpiece becomes the foundation of a famous escape or a lone beacon in another painful collapse.
Either way, a new Ashes name was written into history at the SCG.
And sometimes, that is how legends begin.