Webster finished the day with 3-51 from 13 overs, his best figures in a Test, to push Australia to the cusp of a victory that would secure a 4-1 series scoreline. Provided there is no day-five disaster, Thursday shapes as a modest run chase.
England’s shining light, however, was Bethell, who reached stumps unbeaten on 142. despite being involved in a disastrous run-out with Jamie Smith (26).
Jacob Bethell celebrates his maiden Test ton.Credit: Getty Images
Bethell played just four first-class matches last year, making scores of 20 and 12 for Warwickshire against Somerset in June before playing the fifth Test between England and India at the Oval.
He featured for the England Lions against Australia A last month before getting the call-up for the Boxing Day Test.
Highly regarded within England’s set-up – largely for his white-ball prowess – Bethell has been limited in the amount of red-ball cricket he has played.
“There’s so much other cricket going on around the world that I don’t get to play as much first-class cricket as I potentially would like,” Bethell said at a press conference after play on Tuesday.
“I do like playing for Warwickshire and going back home to them, but I think it doesn’t really have to be first-class cricket if I am playing cricket all year round.”
Jacob Bethell plays a shot off the back foot on his way to an unbeaten 142.Credit: Getty Images
Bethell’s 673 runs at 23.17 from 20 matches for Warwickshire hardly pointed to a maiden Test century in Australia, though the peroxide blond hair and free-flowing approach gave Kevin Pietersen 2005 Ashes vibes.
Coming in at No.3, Bethell became the fifth Englishman – and first specialist batsman – to score his maiden first-class hundred in a Test, following Henry Wood, Jack Russell, Stuart Broad and Gus Atkinson. The last Australian to achieve the feat was Mitchell Johnson against South Africa in 2009.
Ian Botham labelled Bethell a “star of the future”, while Broad described him as a “diamond” England had unearthed.
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That the century came in a dead rubber is a minor asterisk, but Bethell will return to Australia better equipped and armed with the tools to counter an attack that could look very different next time.
Only Alastair Cook, at 21 years and 357 days, has scored an Ashes hundred for England in Australia at a younger age.
“Some of his strokeplay has been as good as we’ve seen from anyone,” said former Australian captain Ricky Ponting on Seven. “I can’t imagine what his heart rate would’ve been when he was on 99.”
The state of play means outgoing opener Usman Khawaja remains a chance to spend time in the middle on day five, with speculation he could open the batting with a fairytale finish on the table.
