POMS FINALLY SOLVE THE RIDDLE OF SMITH
ENGLAND might have finally unravelled the mystery that is Steve Smith.
The former Australian captain has dominated England repeatedly, no more so than the last series in the UK, where he averaged 110 and single-handedly ensured Australia retained the Ashes.
Smith drew comparisons to Sir Don Bradman, such was his conquest of England.
But in this series there has been no such domination.
Smith is far from a walking wicket but he is yet to make a century and on a green Blundstone Arena, he only lasted two balls before edging Ollie Robinson straight to second slip to depart for a duck.
It takes his series average to 31, with 211 runs in total – just sixth in the list for aggregate – with a top score of 93.
For Australia’s best batsman going into the series, this is not the return he or the team would have expected.
He has been caught behind three times in seven dismissals (although in Adelaide it was a strangle down the leg side) and in Hobart, his edge found Zak Crawley at second slip.
And it hasn’t been one bowler who has caused Smith headaches, with his Hobart victor Robinson dismissing Smith twice, veteran seamer James Anderson – who missed Hobart due to soreness – twice, and speedster Mark Wood also getting Smith on two occasions.
Underwhelming spinner Jack Leach, who was dropped for the second time this series for Hobart, also claimed Smith’s wicket in Sydney where he bowled him in the second innings.
Despite his lean returns, Wood said prior to the Hobart Test that Smith was still a prize scalp.
“He might not have had a hundred but getting 90, 50, 60 or 70 is vital in the game,” Wood said.
“He’s still contributing to their team winning.”
Just as the ICC world Test rankings says, this Australian team’s king of the willow crown now belongs to Marnus Labuschagne, and this series (330 runs) would suggest the gap is widening on his predecessor.
Labuschagne and Travis Head launched an aggressive counterattack after the home side was reeling at 3-12.
David Warner was gone for a duck and his new opening partner Usman Khawaja made just seven.
Head’s intention was obvious early, with the South Australian scoring 16 off his first 12 deliveries. The pair put on 53 in seven overs – and 71 for the fourth wicket – before Labuschagne was bowled around his legs by Stuart Broad for 44, just before the completion of the first session.