England were looking set for a big total against Australia in the final Test of the Ashes at Sydney Cricket Ground when Joe Root and wicket-keeper batsman Jamie Smith were going about their business in a 96-run partnership for the sixth wicket. While Australia did not pick a specialist spinner in the Sydney Test, a first in 138 years, the hosts had reverted to Travis Head bowling spin coupled with Marnus Labuchangne’s medium pace ahead of lunch on Monday morning at SCG, the latter move being roundly criticised by Australian commentators. Australia captain Steve Smith also copped some criticism for putting most of his fielders on the boundary. And yet, he was unbelievably vindicated when Jamie Smith charged down the pitch to a dragged-back short ball by Labuschagne to get caught by Scott Boland at deep cover.
It was the turn of English commentators to be flabbergasted with former captain Nasser Hussain terming the shot as ‘really poor’ and shared how he hope that someone in England dressing room should speak to the likes of Smith and Harry Brook. 26-year-old Brook had fallen to Nathan Lyon attempting a reverse sweep in the third Test at Adelaide after he had edged to first slip trying to cover drive a Mitchel Starc delivery in the first Test at Perth.
Asked if Smith’s shot was the worst of the winter, Hussain placed the shot ‘right up there’. “It was right up there. It was a really poor shot, not just because of the execution and because Labuschagne was bowling but the timing – and that is the problem with this England side. They have a lot of talent but don’t seem to lock on to the situation of the game. It was nine minutes until lunch and five overs until the new ball. Just survive and go again.”Smith will be very disappointed with the timing of that shot but it wasn’t just the shot, it was the innings. He was caught off a no-ball at cover and then nicked between slip and wicketkeeper next ball. He played some beautiful shots but could have been out six or seven times. I hope someone in that dressing room at some stage – maybe not this evening but at the end of the Test – will sit down with him and Harry Brook and say, ‘at times in this series, you have not taken the right option’,” Hussain told Sky Sports.
While Joe Root scored his second Test hundred in Australia with his knock of 160, England could only add 173 runs to the overnight total of 211 for 3. With Australia finishing the second day at 166 for 2, the England side would have liked to cross the 450-run mark in their first innings to raise their chances of winning their second Test in succession in Ashes. Having lost the Ashes after losing the first three Ashes Tests, the Ben Stokes led England side had scored a four-wicket win in the Boxing Day Test at Melbourne. Smith, who is playing in his 15th Test in his career, had scored a total of 1214 runs in his Test career with an average of 41.86. With Australian stand-in captain Steve Smith relying on Head’s spin as well Labuschagne’s medium pace, Smith threw away his wicket. Former England pacer Steven Finn too termed the shot as ‘completely brainless’. “That’s completely brainless. I cannot believe what I’ve seen there. That’s going to be a very quiet dressing room for Jamie Smith to walk back into.” Finn said on TNT Sports.
Smith has not scored a hundred in his last 15 Test innings with his last one coming against India in the second Test of the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy at Edgbaston last year.
The wicket-keeper batsman had played knock of 184 against India with his team placed at 84 for 5. Former England captain Michale Vaughan too was critical of Smith and England’s approach in the Ashes. “Jamie Smith is nowhere near the rhythm he should be,” said former England captain Michael Vaughan. This England team have to start to learn and accept. I read something that said Jamie Smith will probably get a pat on the back for trying to take the game on. That is the culture that is being created 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 it is so close to lunch and Marnus Labuschagne is bowling bouncers. I cannot accept that. It sums up this England side,” said former England Michael Vaughan talking with BBC.
