England batter Jacob Bethell is determined to make the number three spot his own as he prepares for the fifth and final Ashes Test against Australia in Sydney starting January 4. The 22-year-old left-hander has impressed since making his Test debut and is eager to cement his place in England’s top order after delivering a crucial performance in the Boxing Day Test victory at the MCG.

Bethell thriving at number three

Since making his Test debut against New Zealand in Christchurch in November 2024, Bethell has played five matches and 10 innings, scoring 312 runs at an average of 34.66 with three half-centuries.

Most impressively, he has excelled when batting at number three, where he has made 261 runs in seven innings at an average of 43.50, including those three fifties. The position suits his attacking style, allowing him to capitalise on gaps in the field when bowlers are searching for wickets with the new ball.

“I like three. 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,” Bethell said, as quoted by ICC.

Boxing Day heroics boost confidence

Bethell played a significant role in England’s dramatic four-wicket victory over Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, scoring a valuable 40 in the final innings to help his side chase down the target and end a 14-year drought for a Test win on Australian soil.

It was his first appearance in the ongoing five-match Ashes series after Ollie Pope was preferred for the opening three Tests—all of which England lost. With Pope struggling for form, Bethell was handed an opportunity at number three for the MCG Test and seized it with both hands.

The youngster is likely to retain his place for the Sydney finale as England look to end the series on a high note, despite the Ashes already being secured by Australia at 3-1.

IPL experience helped prepare for MCG atmosphere

Bethell credited his time in the Indian Premier League (IPL) with Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) for helping him handle the pressure and atmosphere of a Boxing Day Test in front of a world-record crowd of over 90,000 at the MCG.

“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 of the massive crowds. “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.”

The experience of playing high-pressure matches in packed stadiums during the IPL has clearly paid dividends, giving Bethell the mental tools to thrive on the big stage.

Eager to nail down a role in the team

Despite his early success, Bethell remains grounded and knows he still has work to do to make the number three spot permanently his own.

“I’ve still got a lot more to do to call it my position. I would like to (make the spot my own). 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,” he added.

With the Sydney Test offering another chance to impress, Bethell will be eager to deliver another strong performance and strengthen his case as England’s long-term number three.