Ashes 5th Test - Jacob Bethell vows to carry England to 175 lead

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Jacob Bethell will do all he can to carry England to a lead of 175 on the final day at the SCG, which he believes could be enough to give Australia a nervous chase, but whatever the visitors have to defend they’ll have to do it without Ben Stokes.

Bethell’s magnificent maiden first-class century meant England finished the fourth day with a lead of 119 but only have two wickets in hand. Matthew Potts survived through to the close with Josh Tongue to come at No. 11. There are five overs until the second new ball is available, which Bethell sees as a potential opportunity to score more freely.

“They’re obviously going to have the men out,” Bethell said. “There’s a new ball around the corner, which might actually present a bit more [opportunity]. It might do a little bit more, but actually come off the bat better.

“I’m going to have to be smart around how we let Pottsy and then Tonguey at No. 11 come in and what they face, but I’m just going to have to hit the gaps. It’s a big outfield, so there are plenty of gaps and [I’ll] just try and hit them.”

Bethell told broadcasters that when England began their second innings with a 183-run deficit they set their sights on a lead of 200. They were 36 ahead with seven wickets in hand as Bethell built a 102-run stand with Harry Brook, but Beau Webster struck twice in an over to put Australia back in firm control.

In 2010, Australia defended a target of 176 against Pakistan and, back in 1994, South Africa won having set a target a target of just 117. Last season, Australia chased down 162 against India in a game that ended inside three days on a pace-bowler dominated surface while in 2023-24 they comfortably made 130 to beat Pakistan.

“At this point now, I’d bite your hand off for 200, but 160, 170?” Bethell told Fox Cricket. “I think it’s one of those chases. We had 175 at the MCG, obviously on a different wicket, but it’s just enough to keep you guessing.”

Stokes, batting at No. 8, became a third wicket for Webster after earlier picking up an adductor injury which means England will be down to three quicks alongside the part-time spin of Bethell and Will Jacks

“I don’t know if he’ll be bowling tomorrow. I can’t imagine he will be, so we’re going to have to do it with three seamers,” Bethell told TNT. “That rough looks pretty nice for those lefties and then Jacksy obviously to the righties as well, it’s been spitting out of that, so that’ll bring us into the game.”

The final day of the Test will also bring a close to Usman Khawaja’s 88-Test career after he announced his retirement ahead of the game. He made 17 in the first innings.

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