A ‘Mindless’ Wicket Which ‘Encapsulates’ The English Ashes Tour

In an Ashes series full of poor play, England’s Jamie Smith somehow find new depths.

The keeper’s dismissal on the second morning of the fifth Test against Australia was described as “one of the worst to witness” according to lead Test Match Special voice Aggers.

Former England fast bowler Steven Finn, speaking on TNT, stated it was “completely senseless”.

An Unusual Passage of Play

As the lunch break neared at the SCG and Australia looking to sneak a few overs to hasten the new ball, Australia turned to the part-timer Labuschagne to bowl a spell of his very occasional medium-pace.

Smith had progressed to a scratchy 46. His partnership with Joe Root – unbeaten with a masterful century – had added 94.

The Australian side, without a frontline spinner, were employing the occasional off-spin of Travis Head from the other end.

“We better describe this setting, as it is unbelievable,” commented Agnew via Test Match Special. “He usually bowls wrist-spin but is being employed as a bouncer bowler. And there is not a soul within reach of the batsman.”

Somehow, Smith fell into the trap. Off the fourth delivery Labuschagne bowled, Smith stepped back and tried a wild slog.

He succeeded in picking out Scott Boland, the only fielder in front of square on the off-side, at cover.

‘Awful’ – The Reaction

By doing that, he became victim to one of the most staggering dismissals of an England batter in Test cricket, a moment that neatly sums up the careless character of England’s Ashes series defeat.

“No. No!” cried former England fast bowler Aggers. “I have seen a lot of cricket and that is one of the worst I have ever seen.”

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

Steven Finn, who won the Ashes for England during the 2010-11 down under, was more scathing: “That’s totally brainless. I can’t believe what I just saw then. That’s going to be an incredibly quiet changing room for Jamie Smith to return to.”

A Nervy Innings Comes to an End

It ended a skittish innings from the Surrey man, who might have been out by Cameron Green on a number of occasions before Labuschagne was brought into the attack.

When on 22, Smith edged to cover, but the video to show Green had bowled a no-ball. Next ball, Smith edged past keeper Alex Carey and Beau Webster.

He also gloved Green over the slips when he had 30 and, on 34, miscued a pull that narrowly missed the mid-on fielder.

A Slump In Form

This most recent horror show in Sydney concludes a hugely disappointing Ashes series for Smith, extending a bad patch with the bat that began during the English summer.

After Smith made a stunning 184 in the second Test against India in July, his average stood at 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 large boundaries and was bounced out.
• In Brisbane, his debut with a pink ball, he missed two crucial chances behind the stumps.
• A score of 60 in the second innings of the third Test remains his top score of the series, but he was caught to Starc just as he was offering England a chance of a miraculous 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 comes after.

Doubts About The Future

Smith still has the second-best average for a gloveman that has kept in a minimum of 20 Test matches for his country, but his steep decline of form could raise a doubt over his place for the home summer.

“Jamie Smith is nowhere near the rhythm he should be,” said ex-skipper Michael Vaughan. “This England team have to start to learn and understand. I saw comments suggesting Jamie Smith would likely receive a pat on the back for attempting to be aggressive.”

“That is the culture that is being created in this England side and that is why they have fallen short on this tour. Sometimes to get on the front foot but when it is so near the interval and a part-timer is bowling bouncers. I cannot accept that. It sums up this England side.”