The Ashes: Bethell hundred provides belated bright spark

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Test Match Special 57 min 9 speakers 8 chapters transcribed
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?

Unknown 0:00
100 years full of life. You're listening to the TMS Podcast from BBC Radio 5 Live.

What did Jacob Bethell achieve in his maiden first-class hundred?

Michael Vaughan 0:54
Webster bowls to Bethel down the pitch swatting it into the onside he's got it away out towards deep mid wicket there's the hundred for Jacob Bethel the first first-class hundred in his career and it's come at a test match at the SCG against Australia it's a brilliant innings from a very talented young man So after four days of the Sydney test match, England still alive in this game, but it looks as though Australia are closing in on victory. England 302 for eight, so England's lead is 119. The day belonged to Jacob Bethel, his first first-class hundred. What a place.

How did England's performance change during the Sydney Test match?

Michael Vaughan 1:39
And what a time to score it at the SCG in an Ashes test match in only his second Ashes game. 142 not out at the close. Matthew Potts for company. England at one stage with 219 for three. Then they contrived a semi-collapse.

What analysis did experts provide on Jacob Bethell's batting technique?

Michael Vaughan 1:56
to leave Australia well placed for victory on the final day Australia 567 all out Steve Smith first man out today for 138 Bo Webster he's had a good game quietly 71 not out and the last couple of wickets are going cheaply Stark out for five and Boland for nought so Australia with a lead of 183 Crawley was out in the first over again to Mitchell Stark Duckett made 42. Root, final innings of the series, out for six. Brook, 42, and that started the semi-collapse. Jacks heaving one out to deep mid-wicky for Nought's second ball. Smith, run out in a mix-up with Bethel for 26. Stokes, struggling with a groin injury off the pitch for most of the day, came out. He was out for one, and then Kast nicked off to Smith.
Michael Vaughan 2:42
for 16 Michael Vaughan is here, Jonathan Agnew is here, let's start with Jacob Bethel, it's the right place to start tonight even though Australia look to be closing in on victory well what's your assessment of Jacob Bethel? Well it's the biggest smile that I've had on my face for many many weeks and actually for a few years because what we've witnessed today has been something very special and it's not that England have unearthed a young player but he's played in a way that Test match cricket has been played for many, many generations. You respect the ball. You have good balance. You have a good technique. I don't think we talk about technique enough in test match cricket. The best players in the world who survived the longest, the Joe Roots.
Michael Vaughan 3:23
Steve Smith in his quirky way, but his head position is always spot on. And Jacob Bethel today, that was a technical masterclass, a masterclass in composure, calmness.

What does Jacob Bethell's innings signal for the future of England cricket?

Michael Vaughan 3:36
To think that he came out there in the first over with England 180 behind, he's facing Mitchell Stark and Scott Bonner, and that was a tricky pitch. The ball was bouncing, the ball was moving around. Of course, he played and missed it a few, but... The stroke play, when he got the chance to score, he didn't try and over-hit it. For three and a half years now, we've seen England play some innings where they've always over-hit the ball. Even Joe Root at times over the last three and a half years over-hit the ball. We've seen a batting masterclass today from someone that let the ball come and just caressed the ball and with the, they're powerful, these guys, and the bats are amazing, you don't need to over-hit it, just caress the ball on the floor, I didn't see him hit the ball in the air that often, he danced down and hit one over mid-wicket to get to three figures, but he hit the ball on the floor, it was a throwback, that's why I'm smiling, Simon, because it's just given me, for a couple of years, I've thought, oh, am I wrong, that test match cricket has moved on, and you need to play in a different way, and we should really kind of celebrate the fact that everyone needs to bat like Harry Brook these days, well,
Michael Vaughan 4:35
Harry Brook's a lovely player, but I tell you what, give me a Jacob Bethel or a Joe Root all day long in Test Match Cricket. People will be saying, hold on a second, Jacob Bethel, he's come out, he's made 100.

How did Beau Webster perform as a spinner in this match?

Michael Vaughan 4:46
Why hasn't he played in the whole series? Well, I'm going to let John answer this, because he's come up with a very, very good point.

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