A ‘Brainless’ Exit Which ‘Encapsulates’ England’s Ashes Series Effort

During a series for the urn littered with substandard play, England’s wicketkeeper Smith somehow plumb fresh lows.

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

Ex-England paceman Steven Finn, speaking on television, remarked the shot was “totally senseless”.

A Strange Passage of Play

As the lunch break neared in Sydney with the hosts attempting to burgle some overs to hurry along the second new ball, the hosts turned to Marnus Labuschagne to deliver a spell of his very occasional gentle seamers.

Smith had moved to a scratchy 46. His partnership alongside Joe Root – unbeaten with a commanding century – had added 94.

Australia, without a frontline spinner, were employing the part-time off-breaks of Travis Head from the other end.

“We should explain this setting, because it is unbelievable,” said Jonathan Agnew on the radio. “Marnus Labuschagne typically bowls wrist-spin but here he is used as bowler of short balls. 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 flat-batted swipe.

He managed to finding the fielder Boland, the sole fielder in front of square on the off side, at cover.

‘Filthy’ – The Fallout

In doing so, he succumbed to one of the most staggering dismissals for an English batsman in the longest format, a moment that perfectly encapsulates the reckless character of their Ashes series defeat.

“Goodness no!” cried former England fast bowler Agnew. “I’ve watched a lot of cricket and that dismissal is one of the worst I’ve ever witnessed.”

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

Steven Finn, who won the Ashes with England on the 2010-11 tour of Australia, was more scathing: “That’s completely senseless. I cannot believe what I’ve seen then. That’s going to be an incredibly quiet dressing room for Smith to walk back into.”

An Unsettled Innings Concludes

It ended an edgy innings from the Surrey man, who could have been dismissed by Cameron Green several times before Labuschagne’s introduction into the attack.

When on 22, Smith edged to cover, but replays showed Green had bowled a no-ball. The following delivery, Smith edged between keeper Carey and first slip Webster.

Smith also top-edged a Green bouncer over the slips when he had 30 and later, on 34, miscued a pull that just evaded mid-on.

A Slump In Form

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

Following his a stunning 184 at Edgbaston against India last July, his average stood at almost 59. Eight matches later, it has dropped to 42.

• He has made a fifty only once on this tour.
• At Perth, he failed to adjust to the big grounds and was bounced out.
• In Brisbane, his debut in day-night cricket, he put down two crucial catches behind the stumps.
• A score of 60 in the follow-on at Adelaide was his highest score of the series, yet he holed out off Mitchell Starc just as he was giving England hope of a miraculous victory chase.

Before the fifth Test he was omitted of England’s limited-overs squads for the upcoming tour to Sri Lanka and the World T20 that follows.

Doubts About His Place

Smith still has the second-highest batting average for a gloveman that has kept in a minimum of 20 Tests for his country, yet his steep decline of form could raise a doubt about his position for the summer ahead.

“Smith is far from the form he should be,” said ex-skipper Michael Vaughan. “This side must learn and understand. I saw comments that said he would likely receive a pat on the back for trying to take the game on.”

“That is the culture that has been fostered within this team and that is why they have failed on this tour. There are times to be aggressive but when it is so near the interval and Marnus Labuschagne is bowling bouncers. That is unacceptable. It epitomises this England side.”