An ‘Thoughtless’ Exit Which ‘Defines’ England’s Ashes Effort

During an Ashes series littered with poor cricket, English Jamie Smith somehow find fresh lows.

The keeper’s demise during the second day’s play in the final Test against Australia was labelled “one of the worst in living memory” according to BBC chief cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew.

Former England fast bowler Steven Finn, speaking on television, said it was “utterly brainless”.

A Strange Scenario

With lunch approaching at the SCG with the hosts attempting to burgle some overs to hurry along the second new ball, the hosts asked the part-timer Labuschagne to bowl a spell of his extremely rare gentle seamers.

Smith had progressed to an unconvincing 46. His stand with Joe Root – who remained not out on a masterful century – was worth 94.

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

“We should explain this setting, because it is extraordinary,” said Jonathan Agnew via the radio. “He usually bowls wrist-spin but here he is used as a bouncer bowler. There is nobody in catching position near the batter.”

Incredibly, Smith fell into the trap. From the fourth ball Labuschagne bowled, the England wicketkeeper stepped back and attempted a flat-batted swipe.

He managed to picking out Scott Boland, the sole fielder in front of square on the off-side, at cover.

‘Disgusting’ – The Reaction

By doing that, he became victim to among the most astonishing wickets of an England batter in Test cricket, one that perfectly encapsulates the slapdash character of England’s loss of the Ashes.

“Goodness no!” exclaimed former England fast bowler Aggers. “I have seen a lot of cricket and that is among the very 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. Absolutely filthy. It’s disgusting.”

Steven Finn, who won the Ashes with England during the 2010-11 down under, was more scathing: “That’s totally brainless. I cannot believe what I just saw there. That will make for a very quiet dressing room for Smith to return to.”

A Skittish Knock Comes to an End

It ended a jittery innings from Surrey’s Smith, who could have been dismissed to Cameron Green on a number of occasions before Labuschagne was brought into the attack.

On 22, Smith was caught, only for replays showed Green had bowled a no-ball. Next ball, Smith edged past wicketkeeper Alex Carey and first slip Webster.

He also gloved a Green bouncer over the slip cordon when he had 30 and, on 34, skied a pull shot that narrowly missed the mid-on fielder.

A Collapse Of Form

This most recent horror show at the SCG comes at the end of an incredibly poor Ashes series for the wicketkeeper, extending a poor run with the bat that began in the home summer.

After Smith made an astonishing 184 in the second Test against India in July, his average stood at nearly 59. Eight matches later, it has dropped to 42.

• He has passed 50 only once in Australia.
• At Perth, he did not adapt to the big grounds and was bounced out.
• In the second Test, his first match with a pink ball, he put down two vital catches behind the stumps.
• A score of 60 in the follow-on of the third Test was his highest score of the series, but he was caught off Mitchell Starc just as he was offering England hope of a miraculous run-chase.

Before the fifth Test he was omitted from the white-ball teams for the tour of Sri Lanka and the T20 World Cup that follows.

Questions Over His Place

Smith still has the second-highest average for a wicketkeeper who has kept wicket in at least 20 Tests for his country, but his collapse of form could leave questions over his place for the summer ahead.

“Smith is far from the form he should be,” stated former England captain Michael Vaughan. “This England team have to start to learn and understand. I saw comments suggesting Jamie Smith will probably get a pat on the back for trying to take the game on.”

“That attitude is the mindset that is being created within this team 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 Marnus Labuschagne is bowling bouncers. I cannot accept that. It epitomises this England side.”