An ‘Brainless’ Exit Which ‘Defines’ The English Ashes Campaign

In a series for the urn littered with substandard play, English wicketkeeper Smith managed to find fresh lows.

The keeper’s dismissal during the second day’s play of the fifth Test versus the Aussies was labelled “among the poorest I have ever seen” by lead Test Match Special voice Jonathan Agnew.

Ex-England fast bowler Steven Finn, speaking on TNT, remarked the shot was “completely senseless”.

A Strange Passage of Play

With lunch approaching in Sydney and Australia attempting to burgle some overs to hasten the second new ball, Australia asked the part-timer Labuschagne to deliver some of his very occasional medium-pace.

Smith had progressed to a scratchy 46. His partnership alongside Joe Root – who remained not out on a superb century – had added 94.

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

“We better describe this setting, as it is extraordinary,” said Agnew via Test Match Special. “He usually bowls leg-spin but is being employed as a bouncer bowler. There is nobody within reach of the batsman.”

Incredibly, Smith obliged. Off the fourth delivery he sent down, the England wicketkeeper moved back and attempted a wild slog.

He succeeded in picking out the fielder Boland, the sole fielder in the front half on the off side, at cover point.

‘Disgusting’ – The Response

In doing so, he succumbed to among the most astonishing wickets of an England batter in the longest format, a moment that neatly sums up the reckless character of England’s loss of the Ashes.

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

Former spinner Hartley, a Women’s World Cup winner with England back in 2017, added: “That is disgusting. Absolutely awful. It’s disgusting.”

Steven Finn, an Ashes winner for England on the 2010-11 tour of Australia, was more scathing: “That is completely senseless. I can’t believe what I’ve seen there. That’s going to be an incredibly quiet dressing room for Jamie Smith to return to.”

A Nervy Innings Comes to an End

This concluded an edgy knock from Surrey’s Smith, who might have been out to Cameron Green several times before Labuschagne was brought into the attack.

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

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

A Slump Of Form

This latest horror show in Sydney comes at the end of a hugely poor Ashes for Smith, continuing a poor run of form that began in the home summer.

Following his an astonishing 184 in the second Test against India in July, his average was almost 59. Eight matches later, it has fallen to 42.

• He has made a fifty only once on this tour.
• In the first Test, he did not adapt to the big grounds and was bounced out.
• In the second Test, his debut with a pink ball, he missed two crucial chances behind the stumps.
• A score of 60 in the second innings at Adelaide was his highest series score, but he was caught off Mitchell Starc just as he was offering England a chance of a miraculous run-chase.

Ahead of the Sydney Test he was omitted of England’s limited-overs squads for the tour of Sri Lanka and the T20 World Cup that follows.

Doubts About His Place

Smith still has the second-best average for a wicketkeeper that has kept in a minimum of 20 Tests for his country, but his collapse of form could leave a doubt over his place for the home summer.

“Smith is nowhere near the form he needs to be in,” said former England captain Vaughan. “This side must learn and understand. I read something suggesting he will probably get praise for attempting to take the game on.”

“That attitude is the culture that has been fostered in this England side and that is why they have fallen short on this tour. Sometimes to get on the front foot but when the situation is so close to the interval and Marnus Labuschagne is bowling short. That is unacceptable. It epitomises this England side.”