England batsman Jacob Bethell has acknowledged he has “a lot more to do” to secure his place as the team’s number three following a crucial performance in the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne. The 22-year-old made an important 40 runs in the second innings, helping England end an 18-match winless streak in Australia with a four-wicket victory.

Bethell’s Journey to Number Three

Bethell, a left-handed batter, had never batted higher than number four in first-class cricket before making three Test appearances for England at number three in New Zealand last year. His selection for the Boxing Day Test came after replacing Ollie Pope, who had previously held the position.

Despite limited first-class cricket exposure in 2025, with only three matches under his belt, Bethell demonstrated composure under pressure. In the second innings at Melbourne, he batted at number four after England promoted Brydon Carse as a pinch-hitter in the 175-run chase. His performance positions him as a strong contender to claim a long-term role at number three in the final Ashes Test in Sydney.

“I like three,” Bethell said. “You come in when the ball is new and in some scenarios the ball’s going all over the shop, but in other scenarios it presents opportunities to score when bowlers are trying to take wickets and the field is attacking. There’s loads of gaps. I’ve still got a lot more to do to call it my position.”

International Career and Achievements

Bethell’s international career has been marked by impressive performances in second innings, where he averages nearly 67 runs, compared to just nine in the first innings. He made his first professional century in a one-day international against South Africa in September.

His progress was temporarily slowed by injury, participation in the Indian Premier League (IPL), and Pope’s strong performances at the start of the home summer. Playing alongside Virat Kohli for Royal Challengers Bengaluru, Bethell gained valuable experience in front of large crowds, which he cited as crucial preparation for the Boxing Day Test in front of over 90,000 spectators at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

“It’s knowing what I’m able to get out of myself when the situation is like that and when the atmosphere is like that,” Bethell said. “I definitely had a lot more confidence coming into this game after playing in front of, I don’t know, 50,000 – which felt like 100,000 – in Bengaluru.”

Expert Insights

Former England opener Alastair Cook highlighted the importance of sustained exposure to red-ball cricket for Bethell to succeed at the Test level.
“Jacob needs a run in red-ball cricket to learn. He has a lot of talent but he needs to be exposed to red-ball cricket. That’s the only caveat to England putting him into that side,” Cook said.

Looking Ahead

Following the Ashes, Bethell is set to be part of England’s white-ball plans before returning to the IPL. His next first-class opportunity may come in England’s first Test against New Zealand in June 2026. Bethell remains focused on consolidating his position, stating, “I would like to just nail down any role in the team. If you’re in the XI and contributing to winning, I’m pretty happy with that.”

As England prepares for the Sydney Ashes Test, Bethell’s performances will be closely watched by selectors, fans, and cricket analysts alike, as he seeks to cement his place among the top order.