A ‘Mindless’ Dismissal Which ‘Sums Up’ England’s Ashes Series Tour

During a series for the urn littered with poor play, English wicketkeeper Smith somehow plumb new depths.

Smith’s exit during the second day’s play of the fifth Test against Australia was labelled “a truly awful one in living memory” according to lead Test Match Special voice Jonathan Agnew.

Ex-England paceman Steve Finn, speaking on television, stated the shot was “totally brainless”.

A Strange Passage of Play

As the lunch break neared at the SCG and Australia looking to sneak some overs to hurry along the new ball, the hosts turned to the part-timer Labuschagne to deliver some of his very occasional gentle seamers.

Smith had progressed to an unconvincing 46. His stand alongside Joe Root – unbeaten with a superb hundred – was worth 94.

The Australian side, without a specialist spinner, were employing the occasional off-spin of Travis Head at the other end.

“We should explain this field, because it is unbelievable,” said Agnew via Test Match Special. “Marnus Labuschagne typically bowls leg-spin but here he is used as bouncer bowler. There is nobody in catching position near the batter.”

Somehow, Smith obliged. Off the fourth delivery Labuschagne bowled, the England wicketkeeper moved back and tried a wild slog.

He succeeded in picking out the fielder Boland, the only fielder in the front half on the off-side, at cover point.

‘Awful’ – The Fallout

In doing so, he became victim to one of the most staggering dismissals of an England batter in the longest format, one that neatly sums up the careless character of their Ashes series defeat.

“Goodness no!” exclaimed former England quick Aggers. “I’ve watched plenty of cricket and that is one of the worst I’ve ever witnessed.”

Former spinner Hartley, a Women’s World Cup winner with the England women’s team in 2017, added: “That is filthy. Totally filthy. It’s appalling.”

Finn, an Ashes winner with England on the 2010-11 tour of Australia, went further: “That is totally brainless. I can’t believe what I just saw then. That will make for an incredibly quiet changing room for Jamie Smith to return to.”

A Nervy Knock Comes to an End

It ended an edgy knock from Surrey’s Smith, who might have been out to Cameron Green several times before Labuschagne’s introduction to bowl.

When on 22, Smith was caught, only for the video to show Green overstepped. The following delivery, Smith slashed past keeper Carey and Beau Webster.

He also top-edged a Green bouncer over the slip cordon when he had 30 and, on 34, miscued a pull that narrowly missed the mid-on fielder.

A Slump Of Form

This latest poor display at the SCG comes at the end of a hugely disappointing Ashes series for the wicketkeeper, extending a poor run of form which started during the English summer.

After Smith made a stunning 184 at Edgbaston against India in July, his average stood at nearly 59. Eight matches since then, it has fallen to 42.

• He has made a fifty just a single time on this tour.
• In the first Test, he did not adapt to the large boundaries and was bounced out.
• In the second Test, his debut in day-night cricket, he missed two vital catches behind the stumps.
• His 60 in the follow-on at Adelaide was his highest series score, yet he holed out off Mitchell Starc just when he was offering England hope of an unlikely run-chase.

Ahead of the Sydney Test he was left out from the white-ball teams for the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka and the T20 World Cup that comes after.

Questions Over The Future

Smith retains the second-best average for a wicketkeeper that has kept in a minimum of 20 Test matches for his country, but his collapse in form could raise a doubt about his position for the home summer.

“Smith is far from the rhythm he should be,” stated ex-skipper Vaughan. “This England team must learn and understand. I saw comments suggesting he will probably get a pat on the back for attempting to be aggressive.”

“That attitude is the culture that is being created in this England side and it is why they have failed on this tour. There are times to get on the front foot but when the situation is so near lunch and a part-timer is bowling bouncers. I cannot accept that. It sums up this England side.”