All Jacob Bethell could offer was a wry smile. It was the umpteenth delivery from Scott Boland on that nagging Scott Boland length and at that nagging Scott Boland line. Just enough to draw the left-hander forward. Just enough to draw the left-hander into playing at it.

But like he'd done a few times already, Bethell to his credit had resisted the temptation of being lured into the trademark Scott Boland trap outside off-stump.

And his smile was an acknowledgement of simply how unrelenting this interrogation from Boland was proving to be. Bethell had by then got himself to 97, his highest Test score, by playing one of the finest Test knocks on these shores by a batter so young. It had been an innings of pure class and of the highest order, in terms of technique, temperament and tempo. Probably the best knock by an English batter this tour, despite Joe Root having made two centuries in the series.

That is before Bethell even got to his maiden ton. But for him to get to that milestone, he had to somehow get past the Boland threat or at least survive it. And despite having cruised into the nineties, Bethell's innings had now been stalled on the cusp of the century by the Boland barricade. There were a couple of nervous pokes away from his body off the next few deliveries from the merciless Victorian.

Meanwhile, Steve Smith brought back Mitchell Starc from the other end, just to make Bethell's task of getting over the line that much more challenging. But like he'd done throughout the day, the 22-year-old managed to find a way to not only hold his own against the next challenge thrown at him at the SCG, he if anything dealt with it by displaying the maturity of a seasoned pro who's done this for years. Rather than a young kid who's been thrown into the deep end without the necessary first-class experience to cope with it.

There were two searing bouncers from Starc to finish his over with Bethell on 99, both of which the youngster evaded with relative comfort. Swaying away by dropping his wrists to the first one, before ducking under the second one after having kept his eyes on the ball till very late. All while never looking too rushed or frantic like many of his colleagues have done throughout this series.

Bethell would eventually become the first specialist English batter in history to score his first-ever first-class century in a Test match only after he'd earned the rite of passage by seeing off Boland's inquest.

He'd even give himself a couple of sighters against Beau Webster's off-spin before jumping at him and launching the tall Tasmanian over mid-wicket for a boundary. The celebration from Bethell in the middle was pretty chilled, as he raised his bat towards the dressing-room before recognising the roar from the Barmy Army. The Bethell family on the other hand no longer needed to hold on to their emotions as tears were shed and hugs were exchanged with his parents Graham and Giselle leading the cheers.

It was a special moment for the Bajan family who for generations have not just been involved with the sport but are steeped in the annals of Barbados cricket.

In Barbados, they say that the Bethell family name is linked with real estate and cricket. Going all the way back to grandfather, Arthur Bethell, who played alongside legends like Garry Sobers and Wes Hall. And was revered to the same degree as two of the greatest to have played Test cricket, even if grandpa Bethell never made it to the highest level unlike other white Bajan cricketers like Prof Edwards, David Allan and Geoffrey Greenidge.

Graham, Jacob's father, meanwhile was considered equally talented and scored runs for fun in club cricket around Barbados and was a star performer for the under-19 national team in that period. He played alongside Milton Small and Rick Elcock, both of whom took the new ball in Tests for the West Indies, and also with other Test players like Roland Holder. He's also known for having made 109 in his first junior national game against a Leeward Islands attack that included Winston Benjamin.

So, while young Jacob was expected in some circles in his island of birth to be the first white Bajan to play for the West Indies for nearly four decades, it's in English colours that he's started making a mark.

Having now produced a career-defining Ashes performance, which is still underway by the way at 142 not out, on a pitch that many other batters have found difficult to contend with.

Not to forget that Bethell had to walk out to bat in the first over of England's innings after Zak Crawley shouldered arms and was trapped in front by Starc. With England's deficit still standing at 179. At a point when it looked likely that Australia could run through the visitors on the wearing pitch.

Instead, Bethell started by blunting the new ball, leaving deliveries, playing late, and displaying excellent defensive skills against Starc and Boland. It was only after he'd seen off more than 20 deliveries that he scored his first boundary - a clip off the pads against Michael Neser. He followed it up with a delightful off-drive before a square drive off the front foot for four against Starc. He also showed great resilience and composure in recovering from a nasty blow to the side of his helmet from a rising delivery from Cameron Green.

The range of shots only got more expansive once he went past his 30s, including an on-drive off Boland, a couple of pull shots off Green followed by probably the shot of his innings. It was a length delivery from the towering Western Australian that rose sharply after pitching, which Bethell stood up to and punched exquisitely past the point fielder for four.

You could put that in the 10 best shots of the summer. Such was its quality. There were also a couple of delightful cut shots off Starc, every time the left-armer provided some width. But again played late, with his head over the ball and his body in perfect balance, unlike the wafts that we've seen from the likes of Ben Duckett in this series.

Eventually though, it took Bethell to show the kind of doggedness that is required to succeed, if not flourish, at Test level to get over the Boland hump and get to his maiden three-figure score. It's the same kind of pressure that a number of his batting colleagues, who've played a lot more Test cricket than he has, have repeatedly succumbed to over the last six weeks. As they did even on Wednesday, leaving England still in a precarious position with one final day left on tour.

As has been the theme of the series for England, if there was sanity at one end, this time courtesy the youngest member of their line-up, there was stupidity at the other end. Maturity at one end and lack of resolve at the other end.

Starting with Harry Brook, who after yet another bright start entered the 'must hit every ball' phase of each Test innings he's played on tour. And though his eventual dismissal came as a result of an error in judgement by playing back to Webster's off-break. The end seemed nigh anyway after he'd attempted a number of injudicious shots leading up to it.

Then came the shot from Will Jacks that'll get added to the litany of those that'll remain in infamy from this fateful England trip to Australia. He'd been promoted to bat at No 6 with Ben Stokes dealing with his groin injury. And Jacks in a fit of utter absurdity, decided to try and clear the mid-wicket fence off the second delivery he faced from Webster, only to be caught by a diving Green on the boundary. Not long after Jamie Smith ran himself out after yet another dozey call after the wicket-keeper had got himself going with the bat. All while Bethell continued to keep the sinking English ship afloat.

There will be enough time to break down England's relentless pursuit of batting illogicality in the weeks to come but it's safe to say that Bethell has shown the way forward if they are to be a successful and consistent Test side.

On a day, he managed to do what his grandfather and father couldn't. To become the first Bethell to now not only play Test cricket, but also have a Test century to his name. That too in an Ashes contest while playing a knock that'll not just get etched on the honours' board at the SCG, but one that'll remain imprinted in the memories of everyone who watched him do so. On a day, a new star was officially born for English cricket, amidst the carnage of an otherwise forgettable Ashes campaign.