🔗 Share this article A ‘Brainless’ Exit That ‘Encapsulates’ The English Ashes Effort During a series for the urn full of poor cricket, England’s Jamie Smith managed to find fresh lows. Smith’s exit during the second day’s play of the fifth Test against Australia was called “one of the worst to witness” according to BBC chief cricket commentator Aggers. Ex-England fast bowler Steven Finn, speaking on TNT, stated it was “totally mindless”. A Bizarre Scenario With lunch approaching at the SCG and Australia attempting to burgle some overs to hurry along the second new ball, Australia turned to the part-timer Labuschagne to bowl some of his very occasional gentle seamers. Smith had moved to an unconvincing 46. His stand alongside Joe Root – unbeaten with a masterful hundred – was worth 94. The Australian side, lacking a specialist spinner, were employing the occasional off-spin from Travis Head from the other end. “We better describe this field, because it is extraordinary,” said Jonathan Agnew via the radio. “Marnus Labuschagne typically bowls leg-spin but here he is used as a bowler of short balls. And there is not a soul in catching position of the batsman.” Against all logic, Smith fell into the trap. 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 Fallout By doing that, he became victim to one of the most staggering wickets of an England batter in the longest format, a moment that neatly sums up the slapdash nature of England’s Ashes series defeat. “Goodness no!” exclaimed former England fast bowler Agnew. “I have seen a lot of cricket and that is one of the worst I’ve ever witnessed.” Alex Hartley, a World Cup champion with the England women’s team back in 2017, added: “That shot was disgusting. Absolutely filthy. It is appalling.” Steven Finn, an Ashes winner for England on the 2010-11 down under, went further: “That’s totally senseless. I cannot believe what I just saw then. That will make for an incredibly quiet changing room for Jamie Smith to return to.” An Unsettled Knock Comes to an End It ended a jittery innings from the Surrey man, who might have been out to Cameron Green on a number of occasions prior to Labuschagne was brought into the attack. When on 22, Smith edged to cover, only for replays showed Green overstepped. Next ball, Smith slashed past wicketkeeper Alex Carey and first slip Webster. He also top-edged a Green bouncer over the slip cordon on 30 and, on 34, miscued a pull that narrowly missed mid-on. A Collapse In Form This latest poor display at the SCG comes at the end of an incredibly disappointing Ashes series for the wicketkeeper, continuing a poor run with the bat that began during the English summer. Following his a stunning 184 at Edgbaston versus India in July, his batting average stood at nearly 59. Eight Tests since then, it has fallen to 42. He has passed 50 just a single time in Australia. At Perth, he failed to adjust to the large boundaries succumbing to the short ball. In the second Test, his debut in day-night cricket, he put down two crucial catches as keeper. His 60 in the follow-on at Adelaide was his highest score of the series, yet he holed out to Starc just when he was offering England hope of an unlikely run-chase. Ahead of the Sydney Test he was left out of England’s white-ball teams for the tour of Sri Lanka and the T20 World Cup that comes after. Doubts About His Place Smith still has the second-best batting average for a gloveman who has kept wicket in a minimum of 20 Test matches for England, yet his steep decline of form could leave a doubt over his place for the summer ahead. “Jamie Smith is far from the form he needs to be in,” stated former England captain Michael Vaughan. “This England team have to start to learn and understand. I saw comments that said Jamie Smith will probably get praise for trying to take the game on.” “That attitude is the culture that has been fostered within this team and it is why they have failed in Australia. Sometimes to be aggressive but when it is so close to the interval and a part-timer is bowling short. That is unacceptable. It epitomises this England side.”
During a series for the urn full of poor cricket, England’s Jamie Smith managed to find fresh lows. Smith’s exit during the second day’s play of the fifth Test against Australia was called “one of the worst to witness” according to BBC chief cricket commentator Aggers. Ex-England fast bowler Steven Finn, speaking on TNT, stated it was “totally mindless”. A Bizarre Scenario With lunch approaching at the SCG and Australia attempting to burgle some overs to hurry along the second new ball, Australia turned to the part-timer Labuschagne to bowl some of his very occasional gentle seamers. Smith had moved to an unconvincing 46. His stand alongside Joe Root – unbeaten with a masterful hundred – was worth 94. The Australian side, lacking a specialist spinner, were employing the occasional off-spin from Travis Head from the other end. “We better describe this field, because it is extraordinary,” said Jonathan Agnew via the radio. “Marnus Labuschagne typically bowls leg-spin but here he is used as a bowler of short balls. And there is not a soul in catching position of the batsman.” Against all logic, Smith fell into the trap. 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 Fallout By doing that, he became victim to one of the most staggering wickets of an England batter in the longest format, a moment that neatly sums up the slapdash nature of England’s Ashes series defeat. “Goodness no!” exclaimed former England fast bowler Agnew. “I have seen a lot of cricket and that is one of the worst I’ve ever witnessed.” Alex Hartley, a World Cup champion with the England women’s team back in 2017, added: “That shot was disgusting. Absolutely filthy. It is appalling.” Steven Finn, an Ashes winner for England on the 2010-11 down under, went further: “That’s totally senseless. I cannot believe what I just saw then. That will make for an incredibly quiet changing room for Jamie Smith to return to.” An Unsettled Knock Comes to an End It ended a jittery innings from the Surrey man, who might have been out to Cameron Green on a number of occasions prior to Labuschagne was brought into the attack. When on 22, Smith edged to cover, only for replays showed Green overstepped. Next ball, Smith slashed past wicketkeeper Alex Carey and first slip Webster. He also top-edged a Green bouncer over the slip cordon on 30 and, on 34, miscued a pull that narrowly missed mid-on. A Collapse In Form This latest poor display at the SCG comes at the end of an incredibly disappointing Ashes series for the wicketkeeper, continuing a poor run with the bat that began during the English summer. Following his a stunning 184 at Edgbaston versus India in July, his batting average stood at nearly 59. Eight Tests since then, it has fallen to 42. He has passed 50 just a single time in Australia. At Perth, he failed to adjust to the large boundaries succumbing to the short ball. In the second Test, his debut in day-night cricket, he put down two crucial catches as keeper. His 60 in the follow-on at Adelaide was his highest score of the series, yet he holed out to Starc just when he was offering England hope of an unlikely run-chase. Ahead of the Sydney Test he was left out of England’s white-ball teams for the tour of Sri Lanka and the T20 World Cup that comes after. Doubts About His Place Smith still has the second-best batting average for a gloveman who has kept wicket in a minimum of 20 Test matches for England, yet his steep decline of form could leave a doubt over his place for the summer ahead. “Jamie Smith is far from the form he needs to be in,” stated former England captain Michael Vaughan. “This England team have to start to learn and understand. I saw comments that said Jamie Smith will probably get praise for trying to take the game on.” “That attitude is the culture that has been fostered within this team and it is why they have failed in Australia. Sometimes to be aggressive but when it is so close to the interval and a part-timer is bowling short. That is unacceptable. It epitomises this England side.”