Published: January 7, 2026 at 2:29 pm
Jacob Bethell struck his maiden Test century to ensure that the fifth and final Ashes Test reached the fifth day of play at the Sydney Cricket Ground. At stumps on the penultimate day’s play, England were 302 for eight with Bethell batting on 142 off 229 balls.
However, England’s quest to set a challenging score was yet again undone by familiar and baffling dismissals. They are ahead by 119 runs with a whole day’s play available.
The 22-year-old Bethell defied Australia in an innings that struck a perfect balance between attack and defence. But he lacked support and a nerve-jangling fourth innings chase for Australia appears unlikely despite the surface starting to prove challenging.
England had started believing a second consecutive victory was in the works when they reached 219 for 3 in their second innings, with a lead of 36 runs, before Beau Webster turned the game on its head when he trapped Harry Brook leg before for 42. He finished with 3 for 51 from 13 overs in a big effort late in the day.
With sharp turn evident, Webster reverted from seam to offspin and it did the trick, although he was aided by dreadful batting from Will Jacks, while skipper Ben Stokes, batting at No. 8, was compromised by an adductor injury. A mix-up saw Jamie Smith run-out for 26 to add to his list of wretched dismissals as Australia look to be on the brink of a convincing 4-1 series victory.
England’s bid for a strong start to their second innings was dashed when pacer Mitchell Starc picked up a first-over wicket for the fourth time this series when he trapped Zak Crawley leg before for 1. There was the feeling that England might implode, but Bethell brought composure to the crease while Ben Duckett shaped up well as he looked to end a wretched tour on a good note.
Just before lunch, Duckett on 38 gloved a sharp Michael Neser delivery that was dropped by Cameron Green, whose torrid time continued when he dived to his right from second slip only to spill the ball in front of Steven Smith, who had moved into good position.
Duckett’s bid for an elusive maiden series half-century was dashed when Neser had the last laugh when he chopped onto his stumps. Having worked so hard in the morning session, Duckett threw his head back in anguish with England’s hopes seemingly resting on Joe Root, coming off his brilliant 160 in the first innings.
But Root was pinned down by Scott Boland, who was in the zone after lunch. Root was unable to find fluency or manipulate the field and his tortuous 6 off 37 balls ended when he was rapped on the pads by a Boland delivery that seamed back sharply.
Root was reluctant to review, but trudged off the field disappointed when ball tracking had it hitting the top of the bail. Still trailing by 66 runs, England’s chances appeared over but Bethell and Brook scored briskly and took advantage of an Australia attack feeling the pinch in the sunshine.
Bethell was imperious as he unfurled several exquisite cover drives while he also swatted away short balls in brutal fashion. Bethell rolled past his highest first-class score of 96, made against New Zealand in 2024, before facing an excruciating wait for his century. His moment arrived when he skipped down the pitch and launched Webster over wide long-on and he celebrated in steely fashion while his teary-eyed father gave a fist pump in the terraces.
Not for the first time in the series, England merely teased as Brook, who had played relatively calmly, lost focus and luckily edged Starc through the slips to bring up the century partnership. But he was soon pinned on the back foot by Webster as Australia reviewed in the nick of time at the urging of wicketkeeper Alex Carey and it proved a masterstroke.
Earlier, Australia resumed their first innings on 518 for 7 as they aimed to grind England’s flagging attack further into the ground. But England, to their credit, have risen several times in the series just when a capitulation appeared inevitable.
Webster reached his fifth half-century from just eight Tests having been pushed down by the nighwatcher Neser to No. 9. Webster’s hopes of a maiden Test century evaporated when Smith, who added just nine runs to his overnight total, fell for the sixth time to Josh Tongue across formats.
Australia’s innings was soon wrapped up, leaving Webster stranded on 71, one run short of his highest Test score.
Brief scores: England 384 & 302/8 (Bethell 142 batting, Duckett 42, Harry Brook 42; Webster 3/51, Scott Boland 2/34) vs England 567 (Travis Head 163, Steve Smith 138; Josh Tongue 3/97, Brydon Carse 3/130, Ben Stokes 2/95).
