Jacob Bethell is the 'future of England batting after Joe Root', says Sir Alastair Cook after maiden Test century in Sydney

Jacob Bethell was the star on Day 4 of the NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes as he hit a maiden Test century to give England a chance of a positive result. Sir Alastair Cook and Justin Langer both praised Bethell for his performance and the manner in which he scored his runs. "It was brilliant, this is a cool cat, I love him," said former Australia opener Langer.

Sir Alastair Cook hailed Jacob Bethell as "the future of England batting after Joe Root" following his superb maiden Test century against Australia.

Bethell, 22, hit an unbeaten 142 on Day 4 of the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney to give England a chance of a positive result.

Bethell is playing just the sixth Test of his career, having replaced Ollie Pope at No. 3 in the previous match in Melbourne.

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He had not scored a first-class hundred before his brilliant innings at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

"It was a coming of age really," said former England captain Cook on TNT Sports.

"We must give the selection credit now because they have seen something and backed him. They haven’t seen it with domestic form, they have seen it in and around the group and a bit of franchise cricket, and quite rightly he had to wait for his chance in the series. 

Bethell has shown the 'future of England batting after Root' - Cook

Video credit: TNT Sports

"He said yesterday that he didn’t do enough in New Zealand or that one game against India to bat at No. 3 but my word has he taken his chance. He has shown the future of England batting after Joe Root because that knock of 142 was the highest quality. 

"Upstairs in the media centre there were a lot of very good Australian cricketers who wouldn’t have seen a lot of him and they were purring at this."

Former Australia opener Justin Langer was among those impressed with Bethell, who came to the crease in the first over of England’s second innings after Zak Crawley was dismissed, and lasted until the close.

"What a star. That was a sublime innings and superb to watch," said Langer on TNT Sports.

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"There were many things I loved about it. Firstly he came in during the first over so he’s in against Mitchell Starc with the new ball, the hardest time to bat. He got tested a few times and got hit on the helmet but he played on the front foot, back foot, he cut, he pulled, and he played a back-foot drive which is probably the best shot I’ve seen in world cricket for about 10 years, an unbelievable shot.

"He plays technically well and went through the 90s where his temperament was awesome, then he gets his 100, cool as a cucumber, and he is still there. And while he is still there England have a breath of hope."

Much of the talk during this Ashes series has been about England’s batting approach - which came under heavy fire for being too attacking as they fell 3-0 down after just 11 days of cricket.

Langer said Bethell showed the way that runs can be scored in a more controlled manner.

"We hear about Bazball but he played like Joe Root played, how all the greats played - you wear them down and cash in. It was brilliant. This is a cool cat, I love him.

'That's entertainment!' - Langer's passionate message to England

Video credit: TNT Sports

"He has just proven you don’t need to do it, this is the whole point.

"Let me ask every England supporter out there, was that entertaining? That is entertainment. Not running down and hitting it up in the air and saying ‘that’s how we play’. That’s entertainment right there. Well done son."

Cook echoed Langer’s comments and backed Bethell to score "a lot of runs" for England.

"There’s not much to go wrong with that technique, you look at longevity and it is so simple.

"He has timing and we have seen him a bit in Test cricket where he has danced down a few times and played Bazball because he felt that was what he needed to do, but there was none of that today. 

'Pretty special' - Bethell watches family's reaction to maiden Test century

Video credit: TNT Sports

"Up until he got to 120 it was playing every ball on its merit and he had to work bloody hard for it. There were so many times when he was leaving and scrapping and then eventually he gets a cut shot away, and it does get easier.

"He will sit there thinking I don’t need to change my method, this is my method. How many times can he repeat that method? I think a hell of a lot and he will score a lot of runs for England."

England will be hoping to add more runs on the final day and give Australia a tricky chase.

Coverage of the final day of the series starts at 11pm UK time on TNT Sports and discovery+.

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Watch every ball of the NRMA Insurance men’s Ashes series live on TNT Sports and discovery+

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