Australia vs England 5th Ashes Test, Day 4 highlights: England 302/8 at stumps, lead by 119 runs vs Australia at SCG
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THE TIMES OF INDIA | Jan 08, 2026, 05:43:50 IST
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Australia vs England 5th Ashes Test, Day 4 highlights: England 302/8 at stumps, lead by 119 runs vs Australia at SCG

Australia vs England 5th Ashes Test highlights: Rock-solid Jacob Bethell plundered a chanceless maiden Test century Wednesday as England reeled in Australia then built a tenuous 119-run lead to leave the fifth and final Ashes Test on a knife edge.
By stumps on day four at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the tourists were 302-8 with Bethell not out 142 and Matthew Potts yet to score.

The 22-year-old Bethell saved the day after Zak Crawley fell early and veteran Joe Root cheaply, powering to his hundred in style off 162 balls.

But wickets tumbled around him with Harry Brook (42) and Will Jacks (0) removed in the space of three balls by the off-spin of Beau Webster two overs after Bethell reached the landmark.

A calamitous mix-up then saw Jamie Smith (24) run out.

Ben Stokes (1) came in at seven after limping off clutching what appeared to be his groin while bowling the third over of the day, but only lasted five balls with Webster again doing the damage.

England are desperate for another morale-boosting win after victory in the previous Test at Melbourne. Australia lead 3-1 and have already retained the Ashes.

Remarkably, it was not just Bethell's maiden Test ton but the only one he has scored in red-ball cricket, with his previous best 96 against New Zealand.

Bethell was recalled for Melbourne to replace the under-performing Ollie Pope, scoring a gritty 40 in difficult batting conditions with the number three position now his to lose.

His exploits came after the hosts were dismissed for 567 before lunch on the back of Travis Head's 163 and 138 from skipper Steve Smith.

That left England chasing a 183-run deficit after their first innings 384.

- Starc strikes early -

They needed a solid start, but chief tormentor Mitchell Starc once again conjured up a first-over breakthrough -- his 29th wicket for the series.

The pace spearhead delivered a beautiful inswinger that Crawley misjudged and left, with the ball smacking his pads and he was out lbw for one.

Fellow opener Ben Duckett was dropped on 38, but failed to capitalise and was bowled by Michael Neser on 42, his highest score in a wretched series.

Root, fresh from his first innings 160, was terrorised by Starc and Neser.

He finally fell lbw after facing 37 balls for his six runs to the relentless Scott Boland, with the 35-year-old trudging off dejected.

But Bethell proved unmovable.

A single off Neser overhauled Australia's lead soon after tea and the youngster passed three figures emphatically with a cracking boundary through midwicket.

But Webster then swung the momentum back to Australia with his double strike, trapping Brook lbw before Jacks inexplicably holed out to Cameron Green in the deep.

Smith's run-out compounded England's problems, the wicketkeeper-batsman setting off for a single but sent back by Bethell and caught well short by Jake Weatherald's throw.

Stokes edged Webster to Smith in the slips with Brydon Carse doing the same off Boland on 16.

Australia resumed at 518-7, with Smith on 129 after his 13th Ashes century -- more than any other player except the legendary Don Bradman -- and Webster on 42.

Smith flogged Stokes through the covers for a boundary in his first over, while Webster dished out similar treatment to Carse.

But the Australia skipper did not last long, nicking a fuller length delivery from Josh Tongue to wicketkeeper Jamie Smith.

Webster reached a fifth half-century in his eighth Test with a single and put on 20 with Starc before the big paceman was bowled by Tongue for five.

Boland suffered a golden duck to leave Webster unbeaten on 71.

Tongue ended with 3-97 and Carse 3-130.
07:00 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs16.2
Score78 - 1

Cameron Green to Jacob Bethell, Full and on the pads, Jacob Bethell pushes this to mid on.

06:59 (IST) Jan 07

Should be the final over before Lunch. Cameron Green (2-0-15-0) to bowl.

06:59 (IST) Jan 07
1lb
Overs16.1
Score78 - 1

Cameron Green to Ben Duckett, LEG BYE! On a length around the pads, Beau Webster gets it away off his thigh pad to square leg for a leg bye.

06:58 (IST) Jan 07
Score after 16 overs 77 - 1
Runs Scored: 0
000010
  • Jacob Bethell 27 (50)
  • Ben Duckett 39 (44)
Michael Neser4-0-16-0
0
Overs15.6
Score77 - 1

Michael Neser to Jacob Bethell, Good length down the leg. Jacob Bethell steps inside and goes for the flick, but misses.

06:58 (IST) Jan 07
1
Overs15.5
Score77 - 1

Michael Neser to Ben Duckett, Short and wide of off, Ben Duckett cuts this to deep third for one.

06:57 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs15.4
Score76 - 1

Michael Neser to Ben Duckett, Good length around off, Ben Stokes swings and misses.

06:56 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs15.3
Score76 - 1

Michael Neser to Ben Duckett, EDGED AND DROPPED! Ben Duckett gets a precious life on 38. Good length around off, shaping away from the batter and rearing up from the indentation. Ben Duckett goes at it with hard hands to block, but the ball rears up and deflects off the gloves. It then shoots flat between the second slip and gully or the widish third slip. Now, Cameron Green goes with his instincts and dives to his right to catch it with his big buckets, but puts it down as the ball just bursts out of his palms. Michael Neser is expressionless, hiding his frustrations within as he walks back to his bowling mark. Smith looked in a far better position at second slip to take that catch to his left. A big let-off for Duckett. 

06:55 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs15.2
Score76 - 1

Michael Neser to Ben Duckett, Hard length around off, Ben Duckett keeps it out.

06:55 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs15.1
Score76 - 1

Michael Neser to Ben Duckett, Neser comes in and bowls a bumper, on off. Ben Duckett ducks down.

06:55 (IST) Jan 07

Michael Neser (3-0-15-0) is back on. He replaces Mitchell Starc.

06:53 (IST) Jan 07
Score after 15 overs 76 - 1
Runs Scored: 0
11414(4LB)0
  • Jacob Bethell 27 (49)
  • Ben Duckett 38 (39)
Cameron Green2-0-15-0
0
Overs14.6
Score76 - 1

Cameron Green to Jacob Bethell, Good length, around off. Jacob Bethell doesn't move his feet much and pokes at it. Gets beaten. 

06:51 (IST) Jan 07

Thank god for the helmets! That just blew off the grill on its way. The physio from the English camp rushes out and a mandatory concussion test is underway for Bethell. He is smiling and that's a great thing. Gets hydrated, and a new helmet is handed over to the youngster as he looks good to continue. 

06:50 (IST) Jan 07
4lb
Overs14.5
Score76 - 1

Cameron Green to Jacob Bethell, FOUR LEG BYES! SMELL THE LEATHER, SAYS GREEN TO JACOB! A really sharp bumper, on off, Jacob Bethell hops up on his toes and looks to get away from the line of it but fails to do so. The ball catches the side of his helmet's grill and lobs behind over the second slip and races away towards the deep third fence. A mandatory concussion check will be done for Jacob Bethell. That was a nasty, nasty delivery from Green. 

06:49 (IST) Jan 07
1
Overs14.4
Score72 - 1

Cameron Green to Ben Duckett, Back of a length on middle and off, Ben Duckett guides this through the third man region for one.

06:48 (IST) Jan 07
4
Overs14.3
Score71 - 1

Cameron Green to Ben Duckett, FOUR! That's been crunched away! Pitched up, on off, Ben Duckett strides to the pitch of the delivery and drives this all along the ground through the gap between cover and mid off for four runs. Believe it or not, at 37, this is Duckett's highest score in this Ashes. 

06:48 (IST) Jan 07
1
Overs14.2
Score67 - 1

Cameron Green to Jacob Bethell, Back of a length on off, Jacob Bethell gets it away to cover point for one.

06:47 (IST) Jan 07
1
Overs14.1
Score66 - 1

Cameron Green to Ben Duckett, Good length going down leg, Ben Duckett looks to flick but gets it edged towards point for one due to extra bounce.

06:47 (IST) Jan 07

Four boundaries in the last 2 overs for England. This partnership has taken a good structure now, reading 61 runs, with the deficit down to 118. 

06:46 (IST) Jan 07
Score after 14 overs 65 - 1
Runs Scored: 0
400004
  • Jacob Bethell 26 (46)
  • Ben Duckett 32 (36)
Mitchell Starc6-0-31-1
4
Overs13.6
Score65 - 1

Mitchell Starc to Jacob Bethell, FOUR! A much more controlled stroke for four. Full and on off, Jacob Bethell stays leg side, takes a baby step towards the pitch of the delivery and nails the square drive for a boundary towards the right of backward point.

06:45 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs13.5
Score61 - 1

Mitchell Starc to Jacob Bethell, Good length, around off, Jacob Bethell leaves it all alone.

06:44 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs13.4
Score61 - 1

Mitchell Starc to Jacob Bethell, Full and on off, Jacob Bethell drives this to cover for no run. This was such a lovely stroke for a dot.

06:44 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs13.3
Score61 - 1

Mitchell Starc to Jacob Bethell, Good length, wide of off. Jamie Smith leaves it all alone.

06:43 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs13.2
Score61 - 1

Mitchell Starc to Jacob Bethell, On a length around middle and leg, Jacob Bethell pushes this to mid on.

06:42 (IST) Jan 07
4
Overs13.1
Score61 - 1

Mitchell Starc to Jacob Bethell, FOUR! Jacob gets a lucky boundary. On a length, around off, shaping away from the left-hander. Jacob Bethell goes for the flick but gets it away off the leading edge and the ball beats Jake Weatherald to his right at point for four more runs.

06:41 (IST) Jan 07
Score after 13 overs 57 - 1
Runs Scored: 0
040004
  • Ben Duckett 32 (36)
  • Jacob Bethell 18 (40)
Cameron Green1-0-8-0
4
Overs12.6
Score57 - 1

Cameron Green to Ben Duckett, FOUR! Another cracking pull from Ben Duckett and the partnership between Ben Duckett and Jacob Bethell now reads 53. Short pitched, around off. Ben Duckett goes deep inside his crease and pulls this flat and in the gap towards the deep mid-wicket region for four.

06:40 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs12.5
Score53 - 1

Cameron Green to Ben Duckett, Full and wide of off, Ben drives this to point for no run.

06:40 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs12.4
Score53 - 1

Cameron Green to Ben Duckett, Green hits the deck hard, around that nagging length, on off. Ben Duckett looks to block this but it keeps climbing on him and Ben does well at the end to fend it with soft hands. The ball lobs off the shoulder of the blade, but lands short of the converging point fielder.

06:39 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs12.3
Score53 - 1

Cameron Green to Ben Duckett, Short and wide of off, Ben Duckett looks for the square cut but misses as the ball climbs onto him. 

06:38 (IST) Jan 07
4
Overs12.2
Score53 - 1

Cameron Green to Ben Duckett, FOUR! Ben Duckett is looking a lot more composed so far. Short pitched, around middle and off. Ben Duckett pulls this flat, through the square leg region for four runs.

06:38 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs12.1
Score49 - 1

Cameron Green to Ben Duckett, Good length wide of off, Ben Duckett pokes at it but gets beaten.

06:37 (IST) Jan 07

Cameron Green is introduced into the attack now, replacing Michael Neser from the Paddington End.

06:36 (IST) Jan 07
Score after 12 overs 49 - 1
Runs Scored: 0
02(2LB)4100
  • Jacob Bethell 18 (40)
  • Ben Duckett 24 (30)
Mitchell Starc5-0-23-1
0
Overs11.6
Score49 - 1

Mitchell Starc to Jacob Bethell, Back of a length, wide of off. Jacob Bethell sways away from it.

06:36 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs11.5
Score49 - 1

Mitchell Starc to Jacob Bethell, Short pitched, around off, Jacob Bethell leaves it.

06:35 (IST) Jan 07
1
Overs11.4
Score49 - 1

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, Half-volley, around off, Ben Duckett stands and looks to smash this through cover but gets it edged off the inside through short fine leg for one.

06:34 (IST) Jan 07
4
Overs11.3
Score48 - 1

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, FOUR! That's been nicely tucked away for four. Starc goes in search of a yorker, bowls it a lot full and on the pads. Ben Duckett leans onto it and flicks this through the mid-wicket region for a boundary. 

06:33 (IST) Jan 07
2lb
Overs11.2
Score44 - 1

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, TWO LEG BYES! Good length, going down the leg. Ben Duckett gets it brushed off his pads to fine leg for two.

06:32 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs11.1
Score42 - 1

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, Full and on off, Ben Duckett defends this off his front foot.

06:31 (IST) Jan 07
Score after 11 overs 42 - 1
Runs Scored: 0
002040
  • Jacob Bethell 18 (38)
  • Ben Duckett 19 (26)
Michael Neser3-0-15-0
0
Overs10.6
Score42 - 1

Michael Neser to Jacob Bethell, On a length around middle and off, Jacob Bethell keeps it out to mid on.

06:30 (IST) Jan 07
4
Overs10.5
Score42 - 1

Michael Neser to Jacob Bethell, FOUR! GLORIOUS FROM JACOB! That was a Kumar Sangakkara-like stroke from the young lad. A touch too full, around off, Jacob Bethell with a nice high elbow extension, shifts his body weight forward, and drives this all along the ground through the cover and mid off gap for a boundary.

06:30 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs10.4
Score38 - 1

Michael Neser to Jacob Bethell, Good length on middle and off. Jacob Bethell tucks this to mid-wicket.

06:29 (IST) Jan 07
2
Overs10.3
Score38 - 1

Michael Neser to Jacob Bethell, Good length on middle and leg, Jacob Bethell flicks this through mid-wicket for a couple of runs.

06:29 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs10.2
Score36 - 1

Michael Neser to Jacob Bethell, Full and on off, Jacob Bethell punches this to Marnus Labuschagne at cover. A bit of misfield by Marnus but Travis Head had him covered from mid off.

06:28 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs10.1
Score36 - 1

Michael Neser to Jacob Bethell, Neser bowls it into the deck, on off. Jacob Bethell blocks it out.

06:27 (IST) Jan 07
Score after 10 overs 36 - 1
Runs Scored: 0
000002
  • Ben Duckett 19 (26)
  • Jacob Bethell 12 (32)
Mitchell Starc4-0-18-1
2
Overs9.6
Score36 - 1

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, Short and wide outside off, Ben Duckett cuts this over point for a couple.

06:26 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs9.5
Score34 - 1

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, Good length, down the leg. Ben Duckett goes for a flick but misses.

06:25 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs9.4
Score34 - 1

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, WOAH! That has hit something and taken off. Good length, around off, the ball lands on a crack or something and keeps getting big on the batter. Ben Duckett looks to block but is beaten all ends up as the ball whistles past his helmet. Excellent one-handed gather by Carey behind the stumps by leaping.

06:24 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs9.3
Score34 - 1

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, On a length, wide of off. Ben Duckett shoulders his arms at it.

06:24 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs9.2
Score34 - 1

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, Good length, on top of off. Ben Duckett gets right behind it and blocks.

06:23 (IST) Jan 07
0
Overs9.1
Score34 - 1

Mitchell Starc to Ben Duckett, Full and wide down the leg, Ben goes for the flick but misses.

06:20 (IST) Jan 07

DRINKS BREAK. After losing Crawley in the very first over off Starc, this has been a nice little partnership for England. Although dealing with the awkward bounce hasn't been easy at all, these two southpaws seem to have settled in well. It's a huge innings from Duckett's point of view, and saving his place in this English side. He hasn't had a single half century in nine innings this Ashes, and would like to end it with one. Australia will be eyeing a couple of more wickets before Lunch, and just press the knee on the opposition's throat a bit harder. With that said, the ground staff is out with a hammer to flatten out the landing area as Mitchell Starc (3-0-16-1) returns into the attack, replacing Scott Boland from this end. 

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