Bethell brilliance but will it be enough? Test 5 Day 4 Review!

Steve O'Keefe and Moises Henriques break down a fascinating fourth day at the SCG, where a young English star emerged and off-field controversies provided plenty of "hot sauce" for the final Test.

CA Muzzles and Stuart Clark's "Hot Sauce"

The episode kicks off with a deep dive into the fallout from Stuart Clark's recent comments criticising the power brokers in Australian cricket. Clark labelled figures like James Allsop and George Bailey as "lightweights," leading to a reported "muzzling" of the ABC by Cricket Australia. O'Keefe finds the silencing of media "a blunder" by CEO Todd Greenberg, arguing that transparent, even inflammatory, language is refreshing. Henriques, while defending Bailey's intelligence and leadership, admits that Clark is entitled to his opinion and that the heavy-handed reaction from CA only creates a bigger headache for the organisation.

The Jacob Bethell Phenomenon

The standout performance on the field came from 22-year-old Jacob Bethell, who scored a magnificent 140 not out to keep England in the hunt. Henriques is incredibly impressed with Bethell's temperament, noting that he didn't succumb to the "over-aggressive" trap that has plagued other English batters this series. He highlights Bethell's ability to stay patient around off-stump and pounce on anything wide, showing a maturity far beyond his years. O'Keefe adds that Bethell's back-foot driving — a rare skill in modern cricket — was high-end and served as a mirror to the rest of the English team on how to actually bat in Australian conditions.

Strategic Blunders and Missed Opportunities

Despite Bethell's brilliance, England's position was undermined by familiar errors. The hosts discuss Jamie Smith's "costly" dismissal to Marnus Labuschagne — a soft wicket that shifted momentum back to Australia. Henriques questions why English batters feel the need to "slog" Labuschagne out of the attack rather than milking him for easy runs. The day was further marred by a "no-excuse" run-out of Smith, which the hosts believe took the wind out of England's sails just as they were building a lead.

The Perfect SCG Pitch

Both hosts give immense credit to SCG curator Adam for producing what they describe as the best Test pitch in Sydney for a long time. Unlike the recent "green nippers" seen in Shield and BBL cricket, this surface offered something for everyone: it nipped on Day 1, flattened out for the batters in the middle, and has begun to offer significant spin as the match heads into the final day. Henriques notes it's a shame it took five Tests to see a "proper" Australian wicket that allows for a traditional five-day grind.

Day 5 and Usman Khawaja's Farewell

Australia needs 120 runs on the final day, and the hosts are eager to see them tested under pressure. A major talking point is how to handle Usman Khawaja's final Test innings. Both O'Keefe and Henriques advocate for moving Khawaja up the order — potentially to number three — to give him the chance to hit the winning runs in front of his home crowd. They believe such a gesture would be a fitting tribute to a "great servant" of the game who has earned the right to a special send-off.

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