(Video) Jacob Bethell’s Parents’ Emotional Reaction to Son’s Maiden Test Ton in SCG Test 

Across 18 ODIs and 20 T20Is, young England all-rounder Jacob Bethell has amassed 909 runs, which includes one century and six half-centuries.

(Video) Jacob Bethell’s Parents’ Emotional Reaction to Son’s Maiden Test Ton in SCG Test 

Jacob Bethell's father was left teary-eyed after his son scored a hundred against Australia at SCG. (via BBC)

England all-rounder Jacob Bethell scored his maiden red-ball century on the fourth day of the final Ashes Test against Australia at the SCG, which earned a standing ovation from the crowd. The 22-year-old’s achievement even brought his father, Graham Bethell, to tears.

Jacob Bethell was not a part of the Three Lions’ playing XI for the first three Ashes Tests, with England having suffered losses in all three of those matches. The left-hander was only brought in to replace the out-of-form Ollie Pope at no. 3 for the fourth and fifth Tests. Notably, during the Melbourne Test, Bethell was the top-scorer in the second innings, contributing 40 runs in a challenging 175-run chase.

While he only contributed 10 runs to England’s first innings total of 384 runs in Sydney, Bethell staged an impressive comeback in the second innings. After the home side managed to take a commanding first-innings lead of 187 runs, the Three Lions were in danger of being rolled over when they slumped to 117/3, early on Day 4. Jacob Bethell then stepped up, forging a crucial 102-run stand with Harry Brook, while batting throughout the day with precision and temperament. 

Bethell reached his century off 162 balls, with a boundary off Beau Webster in the 50th over. The young all-rounder finished the day unbeaten on 142 runs from 232 deliveries, an innings that included 15 boundaries and helped propel England to 302/8 and a narrow 119-run lead over Australia. At 22 years and 78 days old, Bethell is the second-youngest batter to record an Ashes hundred in the 21st century.

The Barbados-born England international’s display at the SCG also brought his family, most importantly, his father Graham Bethell, to tears. His family members were seated among the large number of England fans in the stands at the SCG. Cameras focused on his father, Graham, who punched the air in delight after his son reached the 100-run mark, and appeared to be crying as he embraced the batter’s mother, Giselle, in an outpour of emotions.

Although Jacob Bethell remained at the crease, the Three Lions experienced a batting collapse following Harry Brook’s dismissal. Will Jacks, Jamie Smith, captain Ben Stokes, and Brydon Carse all fell in the final moments of Day 4, leaving Bethell as the only hope.

Jacob Bethell silences doubters and breaks records with stunning Ashes hundred at SCG

Young Englishman Jacob Bethell shattered several records, on his way to his first hundred in the longest format of the game at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The Warwickshire all-rounder, who has only played six Test matches so far, now boasts a tally of 452 runs, including three half-centuries. 

Jacob Bethell records
Jacob Bethell broke records on his way to his maiden Test hundred. (via Fox Sports)

Jacob Bethell’s highest previous score was an innings of 96 runs, which he hit against New Zealand in 2024. The SCG century is not only his first in Test cricket but also his first in first-class cricket, making Bethell only the fifth England player to record their maiden FC hundred in an international Test match. Furthermore, he is also the first batter in 33 years to score his maiden FC hundred in an Ashes Test. 

Australian wicket-keeping legend Ian Healy was the last batsman to score a first-class hundred in a Test match between the two arch-rivals, back in 1993. Jacob Bethell is only the second England batter to accomplish this historic milestone, alongside Jack Russell (1989). Another big record for the young all-rounder is that he is now the fourth youngest player since World War II to score an Ashes century.

Nonetheless, the responsibility now rests with Jacob Bethell to help his team post a challenging total in the final innings. Following this, he is scheduled to feature for the Three Lions during the white-ball tour to Sri Lanka and the 2026 T20 World Cup.

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