In a display of remarkable poise for a 22-year-old, England batsman Jacob Bethell announced his arrival on the grandest stage with a magnificent, unbeaten century on day four of the fifth Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground. His knock of 142 runs not only steadied England's ship but also etched his name into the record books, drawing high praise from former captain Nasser Hussain.
A Record-Breaking Knock at the SCG
Walking in at number three on Wednesday, January 7, 2026, Bethell displayed a maturity beyond his years. His maiden Test hundred made him the fourth youngest England cricketer to score a debut Test century in the last half-century. He finds himself in elite company, with only Alastair Cook (21 years, 66 days), David Gower (21 years, 11 days), and Ollie Pope (22 years, 14 days) achieving the feat at a younger age in that period.
The left-hander's milestone was even more special as it came in an Ashes contest. At 22 years and 76 days, Bethell became the second youngest batter in the 21st century to score an Ashes hundred, trailing only Cook's 2006 Perth century. The moment was made unforgettable as his parents, Graham and Giselle, and sister Laura watched on from the SCG stands, with Bethell acknowledging them with a thumbs-up, later calling it "pretty special."
Hussain's Verdict: 'The Innings of a Proper No 3'
Former England skipper Nasser Hussain, analysing the innings on the Sky Sports Cricket Podcast, was thoroughly impressed. He described Bethell's performance as the hallmark of a genuine top-order batsman. "This is where he came of age. It was the innings of a proper No 3. It was calm, it was composed, technically sound," Hussain stated.
Hussain drew a direct comparison with the man Bethell replaced in the lineup, Ollie Pope, who had a modest series. "For such a good player, Ollie Pope at No 3 often loses balance and jabs at the ball. With Bethell today, he was more solid than I’ve seen Pope be the whole series really," he observed. His ultimate compliment was to liken the innings to one played by the legendary David Gower, noting Bethell's simple philosophy: "Bowl him a good ball, he’ll defend it; bowl him a bad ball, and he’ll put it away."
Selection Regrets and a Message to England Management
Hussain did not hold back in criticising the England team management for their selection choices earlier in the series. He pointed out that both Bethell and seamer Josh Tongue, who was Man of the Match in the fourth Test, should have featured from the start.
"England will regret that the two lads who have played really well here, Tongue with the ball and Bethell with the bat, that they didn’t start the series," Hussain said. He highlighted a cycle where Bethell, after a promising 96 on debut in New Zealand in 2024, lost form due to lack of game time, looking "frenetic" against India at The Oval. Hussain's clear message was that players need consistent cricket to reach their potential, a policy he believes England has neglected.
Bethell's journey to this century has been patient. After his debut in 2024, he had to wait for his chance, which only came after Pope's struggles in the first three Ashes Tests, where he averaged just 20.83. His composed navigation through the 90s at the SCG, with his family watching, provided one of the emotional highlights of the series finale, a moment Hussain described as "just so special."
