An ‘Brainless’ Exit Which ‘Encapsulates’ The English Ashes Tour

In a series for the urn littered with poor play, English wicketkeeper Smith managed to find new depths.

Smith’s exit on the second morning of the fifth Test versus the Aussies was called “a truly awful one in living memory” according to lead Test Match Special voice Aggers.

Former England paceman Steven Finn, commentating on TNT, remarked it was “utterly mindless”.

A Strange Session

As the lunch break neared in Sydney and Australia looking to sneak some overs to hurry along the new ball, the hosts turned to Marnus Labuschagne to deliver some of his extremely rare medium-pace.

Smith had moved to an unconvincing 46. His partnership alongside Joe Root – who remained not out on a masterful century – had added 94.

Australia, lacking a frontline spinner, were employing the occasional off-spin of Travis Head at the other end.

“We better describe this field, as it is extraordinary,” said Agnew on Test Match Special. “Marnus Labuschagne usually bowls wrist-spin but here he is used as a bouncer bowler. And there is not a soul within reach of the batsman.”

Incredibly, Smith obliged. From the fourth ball Labuschagne bowled, Smith moved back and attempted a cross-batted heave.

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

‘Filthy’ – The Fallout

In doing so, he succumbed to one of the most staggering wickets for an English batsman in Test cricket, a moment that perfectly encapsulates the careless nature of England’s loss of the Ashes.

“Goodness no!” cried ex-England quick Agnew. “I’ve watched plenty of cricket and that is one of the worst I’ve ever witnessed.”

Former spinner Hartley, a World Cup champion with England in 2017, chipped in: “That shot was disgusting. Absolutely filthy. It’s appalling.”

Finn, who won the Ashes with England during the 2010-11 tour of Australia, went further: “That is totally brainless. I cannot believe what I just saw there. That’s going to be an incredibly quiet changing room for Smith to return to.”

A Skittish Innings Concludes

This concluded a jittery knock from Surrey’s Smith, who might have been out by Cameron Green several times prior to Labuschagne was brought into the attack.

On 22, Smith was caught, only for the video to show Green had bowled a no-ball. Next ball, Smith slashed between wicketkeeper Carey and Beau Webster.

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

A Decline In Form

This most recent poor display in Sydney comes at the end of a hugely disappointing Ashes series for the wicketkeeper, continuing a bad patch with the bat which started in the home summer.

Following his a brilliant 184 at Edgbaston versus India in July, his batting average was nearly 59. Eight matches later, it has fallen to 42.

• He has made a fifty only once in Australia.
• At Perth, he did not adapt to the big grounds and was bounced out.
• In the second Test, his first match in day-night cricket, he put down two vital chances behind the stumps.
• His 60 in the second innings at Adelaide was his highest score of the series, yet he holed out off Mitchell Starc just when he was giving England a chance of an unlikely run-chase.

Before the fifth Test he was left out of England’s white-ball teams for the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka and the T20 World Cup that follows.

Questions Over His Place

Smith still has the second-highest batting average for a wicketkeeper who has kept wicket in a minimum of 20 Tests for his country, yet his steep decline in form could leave questions about his position for the summer ahead.

“Jamie Smith is nowhere near the rhythm he needs to be in,” stated former England captain Michael Vaughan. “This side have to start to learn and understand. I read something suggesting he would likely receive a pat on the back for trying to be aggressive.”

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