🔗 Share this article An ‘Mindless’ Dismissal That ‘Encapsulates’ The English Ashes Campaign During a series for the urn littered with poor cricket, England’s Jamie Smith managed to plumb fresh lows. The keeper’s dismissal during the second day’s play in the final Test against Australia was called “among the poorest in living memory” by lead Test Match Special voice Aggers. Ex-England fast bowler Steven Finn, speaking on TNT, remarked the shot was “totally mindless”. An Unusual Passage of Play With lunch approaching at the SCG with the hosts attempting to burgle some overs to hurry along the second new ball, the hosts turned to the part-timer Labuschagne to bowl some of his very occasional medium-pace. Smith had moved to an unconvincing 46. His partnership with Joe Root – unbeaten with a commanding hundred – had added 94. The Australian side, lacking a specialist spinner, were employing the part-time off-breaks from Travis Head at the other end. “We should explain this setting, as it is unbelievable,” commented Jonathan Agnew on the radio. “He typically bowls leg-spin but is being employed as bowler of short balls. And there is nobody within reach near the batter.” Against all logic, Smith obliged. From the fourth ball he sent down, Smith stepped back and attempted a wild slog. He succeeded in finding the fielder Boland, the sole fielder in the front half on the off side, at cover. ‘Awful’ – The Response In doing so, he became victim to among the most astonishing dismissals of an England batter in the longest format, one that perfectly encapsulates the careless nature of England’s loss of the Ashes. “No. No!” exclaimed ex-England quick Agnew. “I’ve watched a lot of cricket and that dismissal is one of the worst I have ever seen.” Alex Hartley, a Women’s World Cup winner with the England women’s team back in 2017, chipped in: “That shot was disgusting. Totally awful. It’s disgusting.” Steven Finn, an Ashes winner for England during the 2010-11 tour of Australia, was more scathing: “That is completely senseless. I can’t believe what I just saw then. That’s going to be an incredibly quiet dressing room for Smith to return to.” An Unsettled Knock Concludes It ended a skittish knock from Surrey’s Smith, who might have been out to Cameron Green several times before Labuschagne’s introduction to bowl. When on 22, Smith was caught, only for replays showed Green overstepped. Next ball, Smith slashed past keeper Carey and first slip Webster. He also top-edged Green over the slip cordon on 30 and, on 34, miscued a pull that narrowly missed mid-on. A Slump In Form This latest horror show in Sydney comes at the end of an incredibly poor Ashes for the wicketkeeper, continuing a bad patch of form that began in the home summer. After Smith made a stunning 184 in the second Test versus India in July, his average stood at nearly 59. Eight Tests later, it has dropped to 42. He has made a fifty only once on this tour. In the first Test, he failed to adjust to the large boundaries succumbing to the short ball. In Brisbane, his first match in day-night cricket, he missed two vital chances as keeper. A score of 60 in the second innings of the third Test remains his top series score, yet he holed out to Starc just as he was giving England hope of a miraculous run-chase. Before the fifth Test he was omitted from the white-ball teams for the tour to Sri Lanka and the World T20 that comes after. Doubts About The Future Smith still has the second-highest batting average for a gloveman that has kept in at least 20 Test matches for his country, but his collapse in form could raise a doubt about his position for the home summer. “Jamie Smith is nowhere near the rhythm he needs to be in,” said ex-skipper Vaughan. “This England team must learn and accept. I saw comments that said he would likely receive praise for trying to take the game on.” “That is the culture that has been fostered in this England side and that is why they have failed on this tour. There are times to get on the front foot but when the situation is so near lunch and a part-timer is bowling short. That is unacceptable. It epitomises this English team.”
During a series for the urn littered with poor cricket, England’s Jamie Smith managed to plumb fresh lows. The keeper’s dismissal during the second day’s play in the final Test against Australia was called “among the poorest in living memory” by lead Test Match Special voice Aggers. Ex-England fast bowler Steven Finn, speaking on TNT, remarked the shot was “totally mindless”. An Unusual Passage of Play With lunch approaching at the SCG with the hosts attempting to burgle some overs to hurry along the second new ball, the hosts turned to the part-timer Labuschagne to bowl some of his very occasional medium-pace. Smith had moved to an unconvincing 46. His partnership with Joe Root – unbeaten with a commanding hundred – had added 94. The Australian side, lacking a specialist spinner, were employing the part-time off-breaks from Travis Head at the other end. “We should explain this setting, as it is unbelievable,” commented Jonathan Agnew on the radio. “He typically bowls leg-spin but is being employed as bowler of short balls. And there is nobody within reach near the batter.” Against all logic, Smith obliged. From the fourth ball he sent down, Smith stepped back and attempted a wild slog. He succeeded in finding the fielder Boland, the sole fielder in the front half on the off side, at cover. ‘Awful’ – The Response In doing so, he became victim to among the most astonishing dismissals of an England batter in the longest format, one that perfectly encapsulates the careless nature of England’s loss of the Ashes. “No. No!” exclaimed ex-England quick Agnew. “I’ve watched a lot of cricket and that dismissal is one of the worst I have ever seen.” Alex Hartley, a Women’s World Cup winner with the England women’s team back in 2017, chipped in: “That shot was disgusting. Totally awful. It’s disgusting.” Steven Finn, an Ashes winner for England during the 2010-11 tour of Australia, was more scathing: “That is completely senseless. I can’t believe what I just saw then. That’s going to be an incredibly quiet dressing room for Smith to return to.” An Unsettled Knock Concludes It ended a skittish knock from Surrey’s Smith, who might have been out to Cameron Green several times before Labuschagne’s introduction to bowl. When on 22, Smith was caught, only for replays showed Green overstepped. Next ball, Smith slashed past keeper Carey and first slip Webster. He also top-edged Green over the slip cordon on 30 and, on 34, miscued a pull that narrowly missed mid-on. A Slump In Form This latest horror show in Sydney comes at the end of an incredibly poor Ashes for the wicketkeeper, continuing a bad patch of form that began in the home summer. After Smith made a stunning 184 in the second Test versus India in July, his average stood at nearly 59. Eight Tests later, it has dropped to 42. He has made a fifty only once on this tour. In the first Test, he failed to adjust to the large boundaries succumbing to the short ball. In Brisbane, his first match in day-night cricket, he missed two vital chances as keeper. A score of 60 in the second innings of the third Test remains his top series score, yet he holed out to Starc just as he was giving England hope of a miraculous run-chase. Before the fifth Test he was omitted from the white-ball teams for the tour to Sri Lanka and the World T20 that comes after. Doubts About The Future Smith still has the second-highest batting average for a gloveman that has kept in at least 20 Test matches for his country, but his collapse in form could raise a doubt about his position for the home summer. “Jamie Smith is nowhere near the rhythm he needs to be in,” said ex-skipper Vaughan. “This England team must learn and accept. I saw comments that said he would likely receive praise for trying to take the game on.” “That is the culture that has been fostered in this England side and that is why they have failed on this tour. There are times to get on the front foot but when the situation is so near lunch and a part-timer is bowling short. That is unacceptable. It epitomises this English team.”