The fourth day of the fifth Ashes 2025-26 Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground witnessed a stunning shift in momentum as England’s young sensation Jacob Bethell rose to the occasion with a career-defining performance. Faced with a daunting first-innings deficit and the looming threat of a series whitewash, England relied heavily on the resilience of their top order to navigate a treacherous path against a relentless Australian bowling attack. While the visitors appeared to be cruising toward a position of dominance, the introduction of Beau Webster turned the match on its head, as his clinical triple strike reminded everyone of Australia’s ability to strike from nowhere.

Jacob Bethell’s maiden ton as the future of England arrives

Bethell etched his name into Ashes folklore with a magnificent maiden Test century that single-handedly kept England’s hopes alive at the SCG. Entering the fray at No. 3 after Mitchell Starc dismissed Zak Crawley in the very first over, the 22-year-old left-hander faced an immense 183-run first-innings deficit with the poise of a veteran. He weathered a brutal opening spell and tempered his natural aggression to anchor a vital recovery, first with Ben Duckett and later during a more fluid partnership with Harry Brook.

Bethell’s innings was a masterclass in concentration; he focused on blunting Scott Boland’s relentless accuracy while pouncing on anything wide from Michael Neser. He reached his fifty off 87 balls and didn’t let the pressure of losing Joe Root cheaply disrupt his rhythm. By the time he reached his century in the final session, his first-ever in red-ball cricket, the emotional scenes in the stands mirrored the significance of the moment for English cricket. He became one of the youngest England centurions on Australian soil, joining an elite list that includes Ben Stokes and Alastair Cook.

His footwork against the spin of Webster was particularly impressive, using his reach to negate the bounce and turn. Even as wickets tumbled at the other end during a chaotic evening session, Bethell remained the immovable object, finishing the day unbeaten on 142. His resilience ensured England not only wiped out the massive lead but moved into a position to set a challenging target for the hosts. It was a career-defining knock that silenced critics and solidified his place in the top order. Without his defiance, the fifth Test would likely have been over before sunset on Day 4, but instead, he has given his side a fighting chance to end the tour with a victory.

Beau Webster’s triple strike ignites Australia

Just as England looked set to dominate the day, Webster produced a clinical three-wicket burst that dragged Australia right back into the contest. Utilizing his immense height to find awkward bounce from the SCG surface, the all-rounder broke a century stand by trapping Harry Brook LBW for 42. He didn’t stop there, removing Will Jacks for a duck in the same over after the batter gifted a catch to the covers. His crowning moment came when he induced a faint edge from a struggling Stokes, who was caught sharply by Steve Smith in the slips. These three wickets in quick succession triggered a familiar English collapse and halted the momentum Bethell had worked so hard to build. Webster’s impact was the decisive blow that ensured Australia ended the day with their noses still slightly in front.

England finished the day at 302/8, holding a lead of 119 runs with two wickets remaining and the valiant Bethell still at the crease. While Bethell’s heroics provided the backbone of the innings, Webster’s triple strike ensured the match remains on a knife-edge heading into the final day. Australia will be confident of wrapping up the tail early on Day 5, but they must now contend with a chase on a wearing pitch that has shown signs of unpredictable turn and bounce.

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