Ashes: Jacob Bethell’s parents ‘proud’ after watching son create history for England

With his parents Graham and Giselle and sister Laura watching from the stands at Sydney Cricket Ground, England batsman Jacob Bethell scored his maiden Test hundred against the hosts Australia on Wednesday and remained unbeaten on 142 at the end of the day’s play. The cricketer, who had moved to England at the age of 12 on a scholarship with his parents working in Barbados, became only the sixth English cricketer to score his maiden first class hundred in a Test match apart from the fourth youngest England cricketer to score his maiden Test century in the last 50 years. Bethell’s parents would watch the historic moment from the Brewongle Stand at SCG and would share their joy in seeing her son create history for England.

“There are so many words that I would like to use, but I guess proud is just the main one and I’m just so happy for it. He’s worked really hard and I can’t believe that we’re here to witness it in person in Australia, so we’re really grateful. I think he’s doing an incredible job, what he’s dreamed of. And I think he’s so grateful for the opportunity to play for England, so I am really happy that he’s able to make them proud,” Bethell’s mother Giselle told 7News Australia while watching her son bat.

England’s Jacob Bethell walks from the field at the close of play during on day four of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo)

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The 22-year-old had made his Test debut against New Zealand in 2024 and would play a knock of 96 runs in the second Test of the series. Post the series, where he scored three half-centuries, the England youngster would also play in the fifth and final Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy at the Oval last year. The youngster, who had played his first Test of the Ashes series last month at Melbourne Cricket Ground, took eight balls to move from 99 to 103 and as the youngster celebrated his maiden Test century with his parents were in tears in the stands. Bethell’s father Graham spoke about he is not a good watcher and how the moment is fantastic for the whole family. “I’m not a good watcher. I’ve never been a good watcher. From the time, Jacob was small, right up to now, not a good watcher. And he’s obviously had a couple of 90s before, so it was lovely to see him get over the line particularly here at the SCG, you know, playing for England, in the Ashes. It’s always been a dream for him to play cricket at the highest level and it’s great, particularly here at the Ashes. I mean, it’s fantastic,” said Graham while speaking with 7News Australia.

Graham had played cricket alongside England batsman Joe Root’s father Matt Root at Sheffield Collegiate in Yorkshire before moving to Barbados for work. Bethells grandfather and Graham’s father Arthur played first-class cricket for Barbados. Arthur passed away a couple of years ago and Graham shared that his father would have loved to be at Sydney to watch Jacob create history. “I mean, it was emotional. My dad passed away a couple of years ago, and he was a big influence on Jacob, and he would have loved to be here. I know he was certainly watching , as well as a couple of the families, my family members who passed away, so there were big followers of Jacob and he would be just saying, great, you know. So yeah, I mean, I get quite emotional all the time anyway, you know. But no, that was, yeah, those fellas would have been looking out for him today, and it was great, great for him to get over the line, as I said,” Graham told 7News Australia.

England’s Jacob Bethell celebrates after scoring a century during play on day four of the fifth and final Ashes cricket test between England and Australia in Sydney, Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2026. (AP Photo)

Bethell too spoke about his father as well grandfather and their influence on him. “Cricket runs in my family: granddad and dad played at quite a high level, but to actually step out in front of them – granddad’s no longer here, but he’ll be watching over – is so special.” Bethell told reporters after the end of the day’s play.

Over the last two years, Jacob has made his ODI debut for England and has played in 18 ODIs and 20 T20Is for England and also scored his maiden international hundred with an ODI century against South Africa at Southampton last September. The England youngster had skipped the one-Test Zimbabwe tour last year to play in IPL for Royal Challengers Bengaluru. The youngster, who scored three half-centuries in his first Test series against New Zealand in 2024, was selected in England XI for the Melbourne Test after Ollie Pope was dropped due to dismal form. Bethell played a knock of 46 during England’s four-wicket win in the fourth Test and Graham spoke about how his son’s dream has been playing in whites. “Well, I mean, you know, Jacob’s ambition was red ball cricket. You know, test cricket. He obviously is involved in the white ball stuff as well. T 20 and 50 over. But this is his dream, this is what he believes cricket is all about, playing against the best bowlers, over five days under pressure, in different parts of the world, in stadiums like this. You know, the T20 and white ball, yes, he loves that as well. And as he said, he’ll just play everything that he can play. Because he just loves it. You know, People say, well, it’s difficult to play all the different formats. His view is No, I just like playing cricket, and I’ll, you know, T20 is short. Test cricket is long. We keep going,” Graham said while talking with 7News Australia.