The Grade Cricketer
Bethell Arrives as Slug Delivers Again | Day 4 | AUS v ENG | Sydney Test
07 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What was England's position at the start of the day?
England started the day behind by 134 runs or something like that. The lead for Australia swelled eventually to about 183. England's now lead by 119 runs, but they've only got two wickets left in hand. We've got a drought-breaking 100 from a new blonde toy with a gold chain and an accent. That's exciting. Slugs just slapped his piece all over these ashes.
And more bad news for Cricket Australia because I'm pretty sure organisations lose money when matches go to five days. So the bad times keep on rolling, but Australia are about to win the Ashes 4-1 tomorrow and that's going to make you feel good. I might fly back to Sydney because I want to be part of it.
I want to feel as close as I can to an Ashes winning side and that's why I do this show, Pezza. Thoughts on the day?
Oh, I was wondering if it's 1994 and we have a, you know, if we're in a South African run chase area, you know, who is Fanny de Villiers, who is Andrew Hudson, you know, to a lesser extent. But that's fanfic stuff.
Chapter 2: How did Jacob Bethel perform during the match?
I tend to agree with you. And I'm not sure if that's a thing I do to cope because things can happen. but like, like I thought, I thought pretty good day for England really today. And a little bit of slug tripod stuff, a little bit of respect on the name of Bo Webster, which we'll come to.
But otherwise, I mean, today was a day where we, where we saw a guy that's probably going to hurt us for quite a while. I, you know, today was a day where it was like, you know, he did the thing that everyone could see the thing could do. And, um, He was surrounded by some seriously dopey stuff, there's no doubt about that.
Chapter 3: What impact does Slug have on the Ashes series?
and he just transcended it. It was like, um, um, Oh, nice. He's 10, he's 10 to 15 years of this thing. Um, and again, the flowers, the flowers will come, the flowers will come. Cause I thought it was like, I thought it was pretty fucking classy to be honest. Um, it, it, he made it look seriously easy, um, in a scenario where lots of guys haven't. So, um, and I'll say his name to Jacob Bethel.
He's not a police, not the opposition in a political party.
Chapter 4: What are the implications of Australia's financial situation in Test matches?
Um, Though, you know, sometimes online it feels like that. So, yeah, I thought it was a good day for England. They've salvaged much more than people expected. That doesn't mean that, you know, everything that's happened before is dead. But I thought they did okay. Led by the youngest guy who scored more runs today than Oli Pope has in the entire series.
Oof. It's 142 red off 232 for Jacob Bethel. Remember the name? Who was that kid again? Anyway, I mean, you've touched on it there, Pezza, but it was a matter of time, really, with this kid. 22 years old, in front of family, emotional stuff. He's on 99 for ages. There's tension that is palpable around the ground, maybe across both nations.
We often speak of what it would be like to do something where the people you love are proud of you. You know, like you've just fucking nailed a PowerPoint presentation at a small business conference. You know what I mean?
Chapter 5: What are the standout performances from England's side today?
Hard not to well up when you see a proud mum and dad, and I'm guessing siblings perhaps as well, embrace each other. That was just awesome, to be honest. The innings was balanced, technique, tempo. Proper batting. It was elegant. It was runs based off defence and stability. That back foot punch to the offside is sumptuous. It actually reminded me a fair bit of Damien Martin.
You know how sometimes you see those things on YouTube where Mike Hussey right-handed? And you will have a look at that for a little bit too long. It kind of reminded me of that. And it also made me think, you know what? I will watch 10,000 test match runs of this thing because it is very, very pretty on the eye. It's lovely stuff.
I completely agree. And I think heading into these innings, the question over Jacob Bethel was whether he was Gary Sobers or Sean Marsh. They were his only options. And... The Sobers prophecy rings true today. Such an accomplished innings. It was class. Even when he was on 99, where he stayed for a few balls, the palpable tension was there, the correct camera panning was happening.
The conversation about how dad was feeling was there, even though I swear mum, and it was mum, confirmed, looked every bit as nervous as his dad. But there are fewer stories about rum and cokes, I suppose. Even when he was on 99, he looked comfortable. He looked like he was just waiting for his moment. He had some serious ice in those veins today. I felt like...
Even Harry Brooke batted properly in the 90s because he probably just wanted to be there and not make it harder for him. It's like he had an actual reason to play that didn't bore him. Um, and, uh, and then seeing like seeing his dad in tears, the family, um, you know, brought into each other. It's good. It's, it's very, very good gear. And with his innings, he didn't impose. It wasn't needy.
It was just a very, very cool method, um, making it look easy. Uh, so we, we, you know, Jacob Bethel was coming. Jacob Bethel is here. Um, he's, he's arrived and, uh, fuck, he looks pretty fucking good.
Yeah, I mean, we've seen him play for the Renegades in Australia, obviously, where he sort of really made his mark. No, but we were also fortunate enough to see him play for RCB, the RCB side that eventually won the IPL. and he's opening the batting with Virat Kohli. I don't think there was ever going to be a suggestion of like, this will never work out.
The whole conversation around him was like, how has this never scored a first... How has this happened? It's so good. It's so nice on the eye, and it makes me want to close the blinds and turn off the phone for a bit, maybe use a VPN to access these highlights. It felt...
naughty to be to be enjoying this because it was so sexual i mean like also left-handed cheating but i mean a good-looking left-hander shits all over every right-hander in history it's you know there's also it also can go the other way you know like uh i mean i mentioned graham smith yesterday i'm going to mention sir leicester cook here um you know unbelievable records sure did i enjoy watching it less so um i'm going to enjoy watching this i don't want it to hurt hurt me because it's going to for the next decade as you said but
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Chapter 6: How does Jacob Bethel's innings compare to historical performances?
You've scored a cheap hundred in the dead rubber when four other blokes have already gone daddy. So yeah, all the best, mate. Doesn't really count. Yeah, yeah, yeah. LAUGHTER And that's how we do it in Australia. You know, that's how we do it. Let's talk about Slug Pezza. It's three for 51 off 13. He gets Harry Brook, he gets Will Jacks, and he gets Ben Stokes. He's averaging 41 with the bat.
This is off the back of ending 71 red, I think it was, at the beginning of the day's play. He's not dismissed, and he's averaging 21 with the ball. All of this is in context with his position... He doesn't fit into the side because of Cameron Green, right? And this is just an outstanding performer when he's played for Australia. It's at 550s in eight test matches for Australia.
It's now a significant contribution with the ball in a test match as well. He's a great teammate. There's no question about that. He's got a bit of Colin Miller about him in terms of his versatility and the funkiness therein, I suppose. I suppose, like, Green's numbers are fine, right? And there have been great cricketers in Australian cricket history, even in the current set-up.
Like, Travis Head was on the verge of getting dropped not that long ago. Then he scores a Boxing Day 100 against the Kiwis, and look what he's achieved now, right? And Nathan Lyon took ages to get into his assuredness in his career. Even, like, Steve Waugh. Steve Waugh's numbers are relatively similar to what Cameron Grant's are now. And Steve Waugh goes on to achieve these amazing things, right?
And, like, I think the patience and the payoff will be worth it. And I don't think Cameron Grant's getting dropped anyway, so it's not even worth the conversation. But I'm frustrated with it because... Like, the payoff may come one day with Cameron Green where he may be literally the best player in the world. Like, that literally may come.
But at the moment, there's a guy who's not playing and he's a better performer for Australia. And that's an interesting thing that's happening, I suppose. And so, literally every time Bo Webster has played for Australia... Maybe he's not the best player on the side, but he has been vital to the success of wins for Australia. He's never let anyone down every time he's played.
And today's another example of that, I suppose. He was great doing a thing that he does a little bit in first-class cricket, you know, bowling off his...
Yeah, well said.
One thing I liked about Slug's innings today, 71 red, on top of his stance literally looking like it's a tripod, which I'm sure it is, was how about six or seven months ago a prominent character in the modern game who was one of the commentary to the World Test Championship final at Lords took one look at Slug and in the back of the box, not on air, walked around the box saying, he's a number nine.
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