Steve Smith clocks up 31 hours at the crease this Ashes series... but England finally make him look mortal

SAM MORSHEAD AT THE OVAL: In real terms, Smith's discomfort might have been much closer to a brush with a stinging nettle than an attack by a Triffid, but in the context of the series as a whole it was something for England to cling on to

smith130902

Scorecard

Is this now what constitutes failure for Steven Smith?

A little after 5pm, the internal system malfunctioned and he missed a straight one from Chris Woakes; a delivery which he would ordinarily have tucked through midwicket for two clattered into his pad as it was destined for middle and leg.

He had scored 80.

It was plumb lbw, an easy decision for Marais Erasmus, not even worthy of a throwaway review. Yet something felt amiss about the sight of this captivating curio wandering off out of the sunlight, out of the spotlight, while the game was still afoot. 

Some sort of sabotage, surely?

Are we certain nobody overstepped?

I’m looking at you, Jack Leach.

woakes130902

Chris Woakes celebrates the dismissal of Steve Smith

But no, Smith had to go, for his lowest score of the series nonetheless, albeit the highest contribution by any player on either side so far in this game.

It was his 10th consecutive half-century against England - no one in history has managed such a consistently brilliant run against the same opposition - and Australia’s fidgety, fabulous No.4 has now compiled 751 runs in the 2019 Ashes, at an average of more than 125. 

He might not beat The Don’s 974 for the campaign as a whole, but he is guaranteed to end it with a three-figure average.

With all that said, however, it should be pointed out that this was not the vintage Smith we saw in those pulsating twin centuries at Edgbaston, nor during his dominant double ton in Manchester last week.

VISIT THE ASHES HUB

There was a passage in each of the second and third sessions of the day, against the new angle provided by Sam Curran’s left arm, during which Smith looked as close to uncomfortable as we have seen since he was floored by Jofra Archer at Lord’s.

In real terms, that discomfort might have been much closer to a brush with a stinging nettle than an attack by a Triffid, but in the context of the series as a whole it was something for England to cling on to, to be encouraged by and to use as a motivational tool in their bid to get through the rest of the Australian line-up.

Essentially, the home side had made in their first innings what the tourists’ No.4 might genuinely have considered to be par for himself - 294 being the sort of total you would not generally send back to the kitchen but would quite happily moan about on TripAdvisor the next morning.

curran130901

Sam Curran bowled well at the Australian batsman

The Oval deck for this Test is flat and true and really does not offer that much to bowlers who do not do their damage in the flight. There is good reason why Mitch Marsh had England tripping over their own feet on Thursday.

Once Smith was in, there was zero expectation in the stalls that he would get out.

So credit, then, to England - and particularly Curran - for the way in which they and he approached what has been an unenviable mission these past six weeks.

Being presented with a powerhouse batsman at the peak of his powers, such as Smith has been this summer, cannot be a pleasant experience, but here England’s seamers did not simply accept that their opponent was too good.

Curran’s nagging line and skiddy action made Smith look awkward.

Three times in an over he simply allowed the ball to swing in and strike his pads, like the wantaway uncle in a game of French cricket - and in a later spell from the Vauxhall End, Curran found extra bounce, surprised Smith and caught the edge. A tangle of arms among England’s slips cleared to reveal the ball on the floor, but the Surrey youngster had at least done enough to allow his team to believe.

And so it came to pass that the hosts ended the day very much in the ascendancy, Archer having ripped through the tail to finish with 6-62 and Curran claiming three of his own. 

This was England's day, make no mistake. And given Steve Smith had batted for the vast majority of it, that is quite some achievement.

Comments

No comments received yet - Be the first!

LATEST NEWS

STAY UP TO DATE Sign up to our newsletter...
SIGN UP

Thank You! Thank you for subscribing!

Units 7-8, 35-37 High St, Barrow upon Soar, Loughborough, LE128PY

website@thecricketer.com

Welcome to www.thecricketer.com - the online home of the world’s oldest cricket magazine. Breaking news, interviews, opinion and cricket goodness from every corner of our beautiful sport, from village green to national arena.