Jacob Bethell: A star amidst England's Ashes ruins

All Jacob Bethell could offer was a wry smile. It was the umpteenth delivery from Scott Boland on that nagging length and line. Just enough to draw the left-hander forward. Just enough to draw him into playing at it.

But like he'd done a few times already, Bethell had resisted the temptation of being lured into the trademark Boland trap outside off-stump. His smile acknowledged simply how unrelenting this interrogation from Boland was proving to be.

Bethell had by then got himself to 97, his highest Test score, by playing one of the finest Test knocks on these shores by a batter so young. It had been an innings of pure class and of the highest order in technique, temperament, and tempo. Probably the best knock by an English batter this tour.

That is before Bethell even got to his maiden ton. But to reach that milestone, he had to somehow get past the Boland threat. Despite having cruised into the nineties, Bethell's innings had been stalled on the cusp of the century by the Boland barricade. There were a couple of nervous pokes away from his body off the next few deliveries.

Meanwhile, Steve Smith brought back Mitchell Starc from the other end. But as he'd done throughout the day, the 22-year-old managed to find a way to hold his own. He dealt with it displaying the maturity of a seasoned pro.

There were two searing bouncers from Starc to finish his over with Bethell on 99, both of which the youngster evaded with relative comfort. Swaying away from the first, ducking under the second, all while never looking rushed or frantic like many of his colleagues have this series.

Bethell would eventually become the first specialist English batter in history to score his first-ever first-class century in a Test match only after seeing off Boland's inquest.

He launched Beau Webster over mid-wicket for a boundary to reach the landmark. The celebration was chilled—a raised bat towards the dressing-room and an acknowledgement of the Barmy Army's roar.

It was a special moment for the Bajan family, steeped in the annals of Barbados cricket. In Barbados, the Bethell name is linked with cricket. His grandfather, Arthur Bethell, played alongside legends like Garry Sobers and Wes Hall.

Graham, Jacob's father, was considered equally talented, scoring runs for fun in club cricket and starring for the Barbados under-19 team.

So, while young Jacob was expected in some circles to be the first white Bajan to play for the West Indies in nearly four decades, it's in English colours that he's started making a mark.

He has now produced a career-defining Ashes performance, 142 not out on a pitch many other batters have found difficult.

Bethell had to walk out in the first over of England's innings after Zak Crawley fell, with England's deficit at 179. At a point when it looked likely Australia could run through the visitors.

Instead, Bethell started by blunting the new ball, leaving deliveries, playing late, and displaying excellent defensive skills. It was only after more than 20 deliveries that he scored his first boundary. He showed great resilience in recovering from a nasty blow to the helmet from Cameron Green.

The range of shots expanded once he passed 30, including an on-drive off Boland, pull shots off Green, and the shot of his innings: a rising delivery from Green that Bethell stood up to and punched exquisitely past point for four.

You could put that in the 10 best shots of the summer. There were also delightful cut shots off Starc whenever width was provided, played late and in perfect balance.

It took doggedness to get over the Boland hump and reach his maiden century—the same kind of pressure many of his more experienced batting colleagues have repeatedly succumbed to this series.

As has been the theme, if there was sanity at one end—courtesy the youngest member—there was stupidity at the other. Maturity at one end, a lack of resolve at the other.

Harry Brook, after a bright start, entered his 'must hit every ball' phase. His dismissal came from an error in judgement playing back to Webster, but the end seemed nigh after a series of injudicious shots.

Then came the shot from Will Jacks that'll be added to the litany of infamous moments from this tour. Promoted to No. 6, he tried to clear mid-wicket off his second ball from Webster, only to be caught on the boundary. Not long after, Jamie Smith ran himself out after a dozy call.

All while Bethell continued to keep the sinking English ship afloat.

There will be time to break down England's batting illogicality later, but Bethell has shown the way forward if they are to be a successful Test side.

On a day, he managed to do what his grandfather and father couldn't: become the first Bethell to play Test cricket and score a Test century. That too in an Ashes contest, in a knock that will be etched on the SCG honours' board and in the memories of all who watched.

On a day, a new star was officially born for English cricket, amidst the carnage of an otherwise forgettable Ashes campaign.