An ‘Thoughtless’ Exit That ‘Defines’ The English Ashes Tour

In an Ashes series littered with substandard cricket, English wicketkeeper Smith managed to plumb fresh lows.

The keeper’s exit on the second morning in the final Test against Australia was called “among the poorest I have ever seen” according to lead Test Match Special voice Aggers.

Ex-England fast bowler Steve Finn, commentating on television, stated the shot was “utterly mindless”.

A Strange Session

With lunch approaching at the SCG with the hosts looking to sneak some overs to hasten the new ball, Australia asked Marnus Labuschagne to deliver a spell of his very occasional medium-pace.

Smith had progressed to a sketchy 46. His partnership with Joe Root – who remained not out on a superb hundred – was worth 94.

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

“We better describe this field, because it is remarkable,” commented Jonathan Agnew on the radio. “He typically bowls leg-spin but is being employed as bouncer bowler. There is nobody within reach near the batter.”

Somehow, Smith fell into the trap. Off the fourth delivery Labuschagne bowled, Smith stepped back and tried a wild slog.

He managed to finding the fielder Boland, the only fielder in front of square on the off side, at cover point.

‘Disgusting’ – The Response

In doing so, he succumbed to one of the most staggering dismissals for an English batsman in Test cricket, one that neatly sums up the reckless character of their Ashes series defeat.

“Goodness no!” exclaimed ex-England quick Agnew. “I have seen plenty of cricket and that is one of the worst I have ever seen.”

Former spinner Hartley, a World Cup champion with England back in 2017, added: “That is disgusting. Totally filthy. It’s disgusting.”

Finn, an Ashes winner for England during the 2010-11 tour of Australia, went further: “That’s completely senseless. I cannot believe what I just saw there. That will make for an incredibly quiet dressing room for Smith to walk back into.”

A Nervy Innings Concludes

This concluded a jittery knock from the Surrey man, who might have been out by Cameron Green on a number of occasions before Labuschagne was brought into the attack.

On 22, Smith was caught, only for replays to show Green overstepped. Next ball, Smith slashed past keeper Carey and Beau Webster.

He also top-edged a Green bouncer over the slips on 30 and, on 34, skied a pull shot that narrowly missed mid-on.

A Collapse Of Form

This most recent horror show at the SCG concludes a hugely disappointing Ashes series for the wicketkeeper, extending a poor run with the bat which started during the English summer.

After Smith made an astonishing 184 in the second Test versus India last July, his average stood at nearly 59. Eight Tests later, it has dropped to 42.

• He has passed 50 only once on this tour.
• In the first Test, he failed to adjust to the large boundaries and was bounced out.
• In the second Test, his first match in day-night cricket, he missed two vital catches as keeper.
• His 60 in the second innings at Adelaide remains his top score of the series, yet he holed out off Mitchell Starc just as he was giving England hope of an unlikely victory chase.

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

Doubts About The Future

Smith retains the second-best batting average for a gloveman who has kept wicket in at least 20 Test matches for England, yet his steep decline in form could raise a doubt over his place for the home summer.

“Jamie Smith is nowhere near the form he should be,” said ex-skipper Michael Vaughan. “This side have to start to learn and accept. I saw comments suggesting Jamie Smith will probably get praise for trying to take the game on.”

“That attitude is the mindset that is being created in this England side and it is why they have fallen short in Australia. There are times to be aggressive but when it is so close to lunch and a part-timer is bowling short. That is unacceptable. It sums up this England side.”