England’s No. 3 Conundrum: Was Jacob Bethell Given a Fair Chance in Melbourne?
(Melbourne, December 26, 2025) – The search for a settled No.3 batsman continues too plague England’s Ashes campaign. With Ollie Pope’s form a significant concern, the spotlight fell on Jacob Bethell in the Boxing Day Test at the MCG.Though, his dismissal for a single run on a chaotic opening day - witnessing a remarkable 20 wickets fall - has reignited the debate: was deploying Bethell at first drop the right move?
Bethell, 22, showcased promising potential in the same position during the previous winter’s tour of New Zealand, registering three valuable half-centuries in his debut Test series. This performance initially suggested a natural aptitude for the role. However, a critical factor looms large – a severe lack of recent red-ball cricket.
The demands of test cricket, notably against a formidable Australian attack, require consistent match practise. Bethell managed only a single County Championship appearance for Warwickshire last season before a late call-up to the England squad following Ben Stokes’ shoulder injury in the final Test against india at home. This limited planning raises legitimate questions about whether he was adequately equipped to face the pressure cooker environment of an Ashes Test, especially at such a crucial position in the batting order.
Scorecard Snapshot: Australia vs. England, Fourth Ashes Test
* Australia 1st Innings: 152 all out (45.2 overs) – Josh Tongue (5-45), Gus Atkinson (2-28), Ben Stokes (1-25), Brydon Carse (1-42). Key Batsmen: Michael neser (35), Usman Khawaja (29), Alex Carey (20).
* England 1st Innings: 110 all out (29.5 overs) – Harry Brook (41 off 34 balls), Gus Atkinson (28 off
