England Batter Jacob Bethell delivered a historic performance on Day 4 of the fifth Ashes Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The 22-year-old scored a memorable century, showcasing composure and attacking flair on one of cricket’s biggest stages. His knock stood out as a rare bright moment for England in the high-pressure contest.

Batting at the crucial No.3 position, Bethell brought up his maiden Test hundred off 162 deliveries. He reached the milestone in style with a powerful slog over wide long-on, drawing applause from the crowd and teammates alike. The innings underlined his growing maturity and ability to handle elite bowling attacks.

With this century, Bethell became the second youngest batter in the 21st century to score an Ashes hundred. At 22 years and 78 days, he is the youngest since Alastair Cook, who achieved the feat in 2006 at the age of 21 years and 357 days. The achievement places Bethell among elite company in Ashes history.

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Bethell was promoted to No.3 after Ollie Pope endured a lean run of form, failing to score a half-century in six consecutive innings. The Sydney Test marked Bethell’s fifth outing at No.3, and he repaid the team management’s faith with a match-defining performance. His consistency and temperament were evident throughout the innings.

The century also ended a long wait for England, as Bethell became the first England No.3 in 14 years to score an Ashes hundred since Jonathan Trott. Only Michael Vaughan and Mark Butcher have achieved similar feats at No.3 since 2001, highlighting the significance of Bethell’s knock.

Beyond Test cricket, Bethell is also set to feature for Royal Challengers Bengaluru in the upcoming IPL season. He impressed in limited opportunities last year, notably scoring a fluent 55 off 33 balls against Chennai Super Kings. His Ashes heroics further strengthen his reputation as one of England’s most promising young talents.

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