A ‘Thoughtless’ Exit Which ‘Sums Up’ The English Ashes Tour

In an Ashes series full of low-quality cricket, England’s Jamie Smith managed to plumb fresh lows.

Smith’s dismissal on the second morning of the fifth Test versus the Aussies was called “among the poorest I have ever seen” by BBC chief cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew.

Former England paceman Steve Finn, speaking on TNT, remarked the shot was “totally senseless”.

A Bizarre Session

With lunch approaching at the SCG and Australia attempting to burgle some overs to hurry along the new ball, Australia asked the part-timer Labuschagne to bowl some of his extremely rare gentle seamers.

Smith had moved to a sketchy 46. His partnership with Joe Root – who remained not out on a masterful century – was worth 94.

The Australian side, lacking a frontline spinner, were employing the part-time off-breaks of Travis Head at the other end.

“We should explain this field, as it is remarkable,” commented Agnew on the radio. “He usually bowls leg-spin but is being employed as bouncer bowler. And there is not a soul within reach of the batsman.”

Somehow, Smith obliged. From the fourth ball Labuschagne bowled, Smith stepped back and attempted a flat-batted swipe.

He succeeded in finding Scott Boland, the sole fielder in the front half on the off side, at cover.

‘Disgusting’ – The Reaction

In doing so, he became victim to among the most astonishing dismissals of an England batter in Test cricket, one that perfectly encapsulates the slapdash nature of their Ashes series defeat.

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

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

Finn, who won the Ashes for England during the 2010-11 tour of Australia, was more scathing: “That’s completely brainless. I cannot believe what I’ve seen then. That will make for a very quiet dressing room for Jamie Smith to walk back into.”

An Unsettled Knock Comes to an End

It ended an edgy knock from the Surrey man, who could have been dismissed to Cameron Green on a number of occasions prior to Labuschagne’s introduction into the attack.

When on 22, Smith was caught, only for the video to show Green overstepped. Next ball, Smith edged past keeper Alex Carey and first slip Webster.

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

A Collapse In Form

This latest debacle in Sydney concludes an incredibly poor Ashes series for the wicketkeeper, continuing a bad patch of form that began in the home summer.

Following his an astonishing 184 in the second Test against India in July, his batting average was nearly 59. Eight Tests later, it has dropped to 42.

• He has passed 50 only once on this tour.
• At Perth, he did not adapt to the big grounds succumbing to the short ball.
• In the second Test, his first match with a pink ball, he put down two vital catches behind the stumps.
• A score of 60 in the follow-on at Adelaide was his highest score of the series, but he was caught off Mitchell Starc just as he was giving England hope of a miraculous victory chase.

Ahead of the Sydney Test he was omitted from the white-ball teams for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka and the T20 World Cup that follows.

Questions Over The Future

Smith still has the second-best batting average for a wicketkeeper who has kept wicket in a minimum of 20 Test matches for England, yet his collapse of form could raise a doubt over his place for the home summer.

“Jamie Smith is nowhere near the form he should be,” stated former England captain Vaughan. “This England team have to start to learn and accept. I saw comments that said he will probably get a pat on the back for attempting to be aggressive.”

“That is the mindset that has been fostered within this team and it is why they have failed in Australia. There are times to be aggressive but when it is so close to lunch and Marnus Labuschagne is bowling short. That is unacceptable. It sums up this English team.”