In a series for the urn full of poor play, English wicketkeeper Smith managed to find new depths.
Smith’s demise during the second day’s play of the fifth Test against Australia was called “among the poorest to witness” according to BBC chief cricket commentator Aggers.
Ex-England fast bowler Steven Finn, commentating on television, stated it was “totally brainless”.
An Unusual Passage of Play
With lunch approaching at the SCG and Australia attempting to burgle some overs to hurry along the second new ball, Australia asked the part-timer Labuschagne to deliver a spell of his extremely rare medium-pace.
Smith had progressed to an unconvincing 46. His partnership with Joe Root – unbeaten with a masterful hundred – was worth 94.
The Australian side, without a frontline spinner, were using the part-time off-breaks of Travis Head at the other end.
“We should explain this field, because it is unbelievable,” said Agnew on the radio. “He usually bowls wrist-spin but here he is used as a bouncer bowler. And there is nobody within reach of the batsman.”
Against all logic, Smith obliged. From the fourth ball he sent down, Smith moved back and attempted a wild slog.
He managed to picking out the fielder Boland, the sole fielder in the front half on the off-side, at cover.
‘Disgusting’ – The Response
In doing so, he succumbed to among the most astonishing wickets of an England batter in Test cricket, one that perfectly encapsulates the reckless nature of England’s Ashes series defeat.
“No. No!” exclaimed ex-England fast bowler Aggers. “I have seen a lot of cricket and that is one of the worst I’ve ever witnessed.”
Former spinner Hartley, a Women’s World Cup winner with England in 2017, added: “That is disgusting. Absolutely awful. It’s disgusting.”
Finn, who won the Ashes for England during the 2010-11 down under, went further: “That’s completely senseless. I can’t believe what I’ve seen then. That’s going to be a very quiet changing room for Smith to walk back into.”
A Skittish Knock Concludes
It ended a skittish innings from Surrey’s Smith, who could have been dismissed by Cameron Green several times before Labuschagne was brought to bowl.
When on 22, Smith was caught, only for the video showed Green had bowled a no-ball. Next ball, Smith edged between keeper Alex Carey and first slip Webster.
He also top-edged a Green bouncer over the slips on 30 and later, on 34, skied a pull shot that narrowly missed mid-on.
A Decline Of Form
This latest debacle at the SCG concludes an incredibly disappointing Ashes series for Smith, continuing a bad patch of form which started in the home summer.
After Smith made a brilliant 184 at Edgbaston versus India in July, his batting average stood at nearly 59. Eight Tests later, it has fallen to 42.
- He has passed 50 only once on this tour.
- At Perth, he failed to adjust to the large boundaries and was bounced out.
- In Brisbane, his debut in day-night cricket, he missed two vital catches behind the stumps.
- His 60 in the follow-on of the third Test was his highest series score, 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 of England’s white-ball teams for the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka and the T20 World Cup that comes after.
Doubts About The Future
Smith still has the second-best average for a wicketkeeper who has kept wicket in at least 20 Tests for his country, but his steep decline in form could raise a doubt about his position for the summer ahead.
“Jamie Smith is far from the form he should be,” said former England captain Michael Vaughan. “This side must learn and understand. I saw comments suggesting Jamie Smith will probably get a pat on the back for trying to be aggressive.”
“That attitude is the mindset that is being created in this England side and that is why they have fallen short in Australia. Sometimes to get on the front foot but when it is so near the interval and a part-timer is bowling bouncers. That is unacceptable. It sums up this English team.”
