In a thrilling turn of events at the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney, England's young talent, Jacob Bethell, etched his name in cricket history by scoring his maiden first-class century. The 22-year-old's remarkable feat places him in an elite group alongside Indian legend Kapil Dev, as he becomes the first England batter to achieve both List A and first-class hundreds at the international level.

Bethell's century arrived on the fourth day of the final Ashes Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG). Coming in to bat after the early dismissal of Zak Crawley, Bethell displayed composure and skill, defying the challenging conditions and a formidable Australian attack. He reached his century off 162 balls, with a boundary off spinner Beau Webster. His family was in the crowd to witness the achievement.

Before Bethell, the likes of Kapil Dev (India), Marlon Samuels (West Indies), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (Bangladesh) and Curtis Campher (Ireland) have scored maiden first-class as well as List-A hundreds in internationals.

Bethell's innings was not just about personal milestones; it was a crucial contribution to England's fightback in the Test. He formed partnerships of 81 with Ben Duckett and 102 with Harry Brook, helping England recover from a poor start and build a lead. At the time of writing, he was batting on 135, with England's second innings lead crossing the 100-run mark. He eventually ended the day unbeaten on 142.

Despite Bethell's heroics, England faced a late wobble, slipping to 302-8 by the end of the fourth day. Webster's double-strike, dismissing Brook and Will Jacks in quick succession, swung the momentum back in Australia's favor.

Bethell's journey to international recognition has been rapid. Born in Barbados on October 23, 2003, he represents Warwickshire in domestic cricket. He made his international debut in September 2024 against Australia. In 2025, he became England's youngest ever captain when he was appointed to lead the Twenty20 International side against Ireland in September. He has also played in the Indian Premier League (IPL) for Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Bethell's maiden first-class century is a testament to his talent, temperament, and potential. While the Test result remains uncertain, his innings has provided a bright spark for England and cemented his place as one of the most promising young cricketers in the world.