England batter Jacob Bethell has said that while England will look to score as many runs as possible in their second innings of the fifth and final Ashes Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), a total of 180 or more would be a “dream” score to set Australia a challenging target.
England finished Day 4 at 302/8, with Bethell unbeaten on 142* and Matthew Potts at the crease, giving the tourists a lead of 119 runs over Australia. The 22-year-old’s remarkable innings helped England overturn a substantial first-innings deficit and put them in a position to fight on the final day.
In a video posted by England Cricket on X after the play, Bethell explained that England will look to maximise their second innings total when they resume batting. “We need to try and get as many [runs], to be honest,” he said. “I think **180 would be a dream now. Maybe more. I’m going to have to be smart around how I take risks and try and beat the gaps and beat the field… and yeah, just be smart around what I let Potts and Tongue face when they do come out.”
Bethell’s knock marks his maiden first-class and Test century, a milestone that came at a critical phase of the match and has reignited England’s hopes in the Ashes finale. He spoke about how special the achievement was, noting the joy of reaching three figures in front of his family in the stands and the support from his teammates.
The young left-hander has displayed impressive composure and technique throughout his innings, guiding England back into contention and providing a crucial backbone to their batting efforts on a challenging SCG pitch.