Jacob Bethell is one name the cricket fans will remember for a long time. The rookie English batter, already touted to achieve greatness across formats, just completed his maiden Test hundred for England, also his first in First-Class cricket. However, what won hearts and the internet was not his incredible approach and technique on a day four SCG pitch, but his family’s reaction to their son’s memorable Ashes century.&nbsp;The left-hander, playing at number three in this fifth and final Ashes Test, got out cheaply in the first innings but made the most of this golden opportunity to press his case for future Tests. His sublime technique and footwork were commendable to see, with his parents’ reaction, sitting in the stands, telling the entire story. &nbsp;WATCH VIDEO –

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">A maiden Test century for Jacob Bethell! What a way to do it 🤩<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Ashes?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Ashes</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PlayoftheDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PlayoftheDay</a> | <a href="https://twitter.com/nrmainsurance?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@nrmainsurance</a> <a href="https://t.co/lXSUViEVrR">pic.twitter.com/lXSUViEVrR</a>&mdash; cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) <a href="https://twitter.com/cricketcomau/status/2008769502826172652?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<h3>‘It all changed in two overs’</h3>England was cruising well on 219 for three, with Bethell, having just completed his maiden Test hundred, and Test vice-captain Harry Brook, approaching a gritty fifty, at the crease, before seam-bowling all-rounder Beau Webster, who turned into an off-spinner, did the damage. &nbsp;He first accounted for Brook, trapped in front of the wicket, on the first ball of his over before Will Jacks, who walked ahead of captain Ben Stokes, who earlier suffered a groin injury, played a horrendous shot to fall for a second-ball duck, putting England’s back against the wall. &nbsp;Stokes didn’t come out next, with keeper-batter Jamie Smith coming in at number seven, joining hands with Bethell.&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/blow-to-bangladesh-as-icc-rejects-request-for-venue-change-at-2026-t20-world-cup-india-bcci-mustafizur-rahman-1767760976817">Blow to Bangladesh as ICC rejects request for venue change at T20 WC, says play in India or…</a> &nbsp;Meanwhile, earlier in the day, opener Zak Crawley departed on just one off two balls, with Mitchell Starc striking in his first over once again. Bethell and Ben Duckett added 81 runs for the second wicket before Michael Neser removed Duckett, bowled on 42. &nbsp;Batting veteran Joe Root, who completed his second Test hundred in Australia in the first inning, got out cheaply on just six, finishing this five-match series with 400 runs, two centuries and averaging 44.44 with the bat. &nbsp;Later, Brook and Bethell stitched a 102-run stand for the fourth wicket, only for Webster to break it and England’s momentum in just two deliveries.

Bethell is the second English player in two years and the fifth overall from the country to complete his maiden FC hundred in a Test match. 

Jacob Bethell is one name the cricket fans will remember for a long time. The rookie English batter, already touted to achieve greatness across formats, just completed his maiden Test hundred for England, also his first in First-Class cricket. However, what won hearts and the internet was not his incredible approach and technique on a day four SCG pitch, but his family’s reaction to their son’s memorable Ashes century. The left-hander, playing at number three in this fifth and final Ashes Test, got out cheaply in the first innings but made the most of this golden opportunity to press his case for future Tests. His sublime technique and footwork were commendable to see, with his parents’ reaction, sitting in the stands, telling the entire story. WATCH VIDEO –

Bethell is the second English player in two years and the fifth overall from the country to complete his maiden FC hundred in a Test match.&nbsp;

Ashes: Jacob Bethell breaks records with SCG hundred, his family’s reaction wins hearts, internet - WATCH

An emotional Alex Carey called his 106 on home soil in front of family and friends in the third Ashes Test a "special moment" on Wednesday, with the century coming just months after his father died. The 34-year-old, who produced a wicketkeeping masterclass during the second Test in Brisbane, showed his prowess with the bat to steer Australia to 326-8 at stumps on day one against England.&nbsp;&nbsp;It was his third Test century, his first in an Ashes series, and an innings to savour with his friends and family watching. Carey punched the air and looked to the heavens when he reached the milestone as his wife, Eloise, sobbed in the stands. It was the first time Carey had reached three figures since his father Gordon died after a battle with leukaemia in September, and he called it a "special moment".&nbsp;Also read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/sports/ashes-alex-carey-usman-khawaja-shine-as-australia-recover-after-poor-start-on-day-1-of-adelaide-test-1765955100108">Ashes: Carey, Khawaja shine as Australia recover after poor start on Day 1 of Adelaide Test</a>&nbsp;"Probably won't go into too much depth thinking through the reasons why, I'll probably get emotional, but yeah, it was great," he said. "Dad played the biggest role probably in my cricket, coached me all the way through as dads want to do," he added.&nbsp;"Sort of let me go once I got into my older teenage years, but would always shoot a message and (say) put the reverse sweep away and keep hard on me."&nbsp;Carey's 106 off 143 balls hauled Australia out of trouble after losing two quick wickets in the first over after lunch, then Usman Khawaja departed for a gritty 82. He shared in partnerships with Josh Inglis, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc to get the hosts back on track as they target an unassailable 3-0 series lead.&nbsp;"Really a little bit of a sticky situation there straight after lunch," he said. "So, to form a partnership with Uzzie (Khawaja), and I guess keep us in the mix (was special).&nbsp;"Would love to have scored more runs and be there a bit longer. But to be able to take the helmet off and look up to the heavens, it was a really nice moment."&nbsp;Khawaja was parachuted in at the last moment when Steve Smith pulled out with illness just before the toss. He came in at four after being overlooked as opener in favour of Travis Head and Jake Weatherald, with many fearing it spelt the end of his career. But Carey said Khawaja still had plenty to give the team.&nbsp;"I still think he's got so much to give to this group," he said. “We saw again today, he played really well.”&nbsp;Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

The 34-year-old, who produced a wicketkeeping masterclass during the second Test in Brisbane, showed his prowess with the bat to steer Australia to 326-8 at stumps on day one against England. 

An emotional Alex Carey called his 106 on home soil in front of family and friends in the third Ashes Test a "special moment" on Wednesday, with the century coming just months after his father died. The 34-year-old, who produced a wicketkeeping masterclass during the second Test in Brisbane, showed his prowess with the bat to steer Australia to 326-8 at stumps on day one against England. It was his third Test century, his first in an Ashes series, and an innings to savour with his friends and family watching. Carey punched the air and looked to the heavens when he reached the milestone as his wife, Eloise, sobbed in the stands. It was the first time Carey had reached three figures since his father Gordon died after a battle with leukaemia in September, and he called it a "special moment". Also read | Ashes: Carey, Khawaja shine as Australia recover after poor start on Day 1 of Adelaide Test "Probably won't go into too much depth thinking through the reasons why, I'll probably get emotional, but yeah, it was great," he said. "Dad played the biggest role probably in my cricket, coached me all the way through as dads want to do," he added. "Sort of let me go once I got into my older teenage years, but would always shoot a message and (say) put the reverse sweep away and keep hard on me." Carey's 106 off 143 balls hauled Australia out of trouble after losing two quick wickets in the first over after lunch, then Usman Khawaja departed for a gritty 82. He shared in partnerships with Josh Inglis, Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc to get the hosts back on track as they target an unassailable 3-0 series lead. "Really a little bit of a sticky situation there straight after lunch," he said. "So, to form a partnership with Uzzie (Khawaja), and I guess keep us in the mix (was special). "Would love to have scored more runs and be there a bit longer. But to be able to take the helmet off and look up to the heavens, it was a really nice moment." Khawaja was parachuted in at the last moment when Steve Smith pulled out with illness just before the toss. He came in at four after being overlooked as opener in favour of Travis Head and Jake Weatherald, with many fearing it spelt the end of his career. But Carey said Khawaja still had plenty to give the team. "I still think he's got so much to give to this group," he said. “We saw again today, he played really well.” Disclaimer: This story has been published from a news agency feed with minimal edits to adhere to WION's style guide. The headline may have been changed to better reflect the content of the story or to make it more suitable for the WION audience.

The 34-year-old, who produced a wicketkeeping masterclass during the second Test in Brisbane, showed his prowess with the bat to steer Australia to 326-8 at stumps on day one against England.&nbsp;

Adelaide Test: Emotional Carey dedicates maiden Ashes hundred to late father

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Ashes: Jacob Bethell breaks records with SCG hundred, his family’s reaction wins hearts, internet - WATCH

Adelaide Test: Emotional Carey dedicates maiden Ashes hundred to late father