England threw a ‘kid to the wolves’ after Ashes humiliation. His breakout 100 was ‘not the Bazball way’

England hasn’t had a lot to celebrate this summer.

The MCG triumph, albeit breaking a 14-year drought on Australian soil, felt like a consolation victory after losing the coveted urn in less than 11 days, a humiliating outcome for Brendon McCullum’s Bazballers.

Joe Root ticked off a career milestone with his maiden Test hundred in Australia, while Josh Tongue has been excellent in passages with the ball. But otherwise, it’s been a forgettable campaign for Ben Stokes’ men.

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However, on day four of the series finale in Sydney, 22-year-old Jacob Bethell gave the Barmy Army something to cheer about, a reassuring glimpse at the country’s next generation. Back home, England fans will wake up not to headlines of another dismal collapse, but of a breakout performance from a young kid with a gorgeous cover drive.

The blonde left-hander had missed selection for the first three Tests of the tour, shoehorned into the England starting XI after the series was already decided. Replacing former vice-captain Ollie Pope at No. 3, he offered a taste of his budding potential during last week’s Boxing Day clash, hitting a stylish 40 to help England chase down an awkward target at the MCG.

But on Wednesday afternoon, Bethell celebrated a maiden Test century to cement his status as a superstar in the making. He reached triple figures in 162 deliveries, passing the milestone with a lofted glance through mid-wicket that landed inches from the boundary rope.

His family rejoiced in the stands, embracing and holding back tears, but Bethell was eerily calm, chewing his gum with a wry smile as he saluted the Sydney crowd.

He hadn’t achieved a first-class century before this tour, but he looks right at home in the Test arena.

“England’s yet to produce a stunning No. 3, and they’ve banked a lot on this fella,” former Australian spinner Kerry O’Keeffe said on Fox Cricket.

“Without a first-class hundred, batting at No. 3 in a Test match, against Mitchell Starc and company, is a big ask, but they believe they have the man.

“And from what we saw in Melbourne, and what we’ve seen here today, they might well be right.

“McCullum and Stokes were criticised for throwing a kid to the wolves, but they knew they had the right kid.”

Former England bowler Isa Guha added: “He’s looked completely at ease in Test match cricket.”

Bethell never resorted to recklessness at the SCG, playing under his eyeline and respecting the good deliveries. It was a chanceless, elegant knock, an old-school performance that would have made England’s past generations proud.

With composure and temperament beyond his years, he soaked up pressure rather than looking to heap it on the opposition, flourishing in Australian conditions.

Bluntly, he made some of his more experienced teammates look foolish.

“He’s got a natural gift. You can see his alignment, his balance, his movement, his hand-speed, it’s so natural, he’s high-class,” former England captain Michael Vaughan told Fox Cricket.

“It’s the tempo that he’s played today, the pitch has not been easy.

“That’s the way to play Test match cricket. Not the Bazball way.

“That’s proper Test match batting.”

According to Vaughan, Bethell’s challenge moving forward will be how he manages the pressures of juggling the three formats. Domestic T20 leagues around the world will be chasing his signature, and many of his teammates have struggled to change gears when switching from white-ball cricket to Tests.

“That’s the hard thing for these young players that are playing all three formats, to keep that tempo, to keep your mind active and strong across the three formats,” Vaughan added.

“I still think he needs to play more red-ball cricket.”

Vaughan also floated the potential of encouraging Bethell to play more County Championship cricket by omitting him from inconsequential international white-ball series during the home summer, but still paying him the England match fee as an enticement.

“If you want your players to develop, is every lateral white ball series that important?” he continued.

“These are the things the management teams have to look at.

“What’s the best for their development going forward? If it is to play three four-day games rather than a one-day series against X, or Y, just pay them what they would have gotten for the one-day series.

“It’s not rocket science.”

Pope had flashes of brilliance at the No. 3 position, but it never felt as though he had cemented his spot in the Test side. Even while leading England during last year’s Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy campaign against India, there was looming speculation about his form an future in the game’s longest format.

In Bethell, England may have unearthed a long-term replacement.