Moments that Mattered: Steve Smith’s freak catch triggers Gabbatoir massacre
Australia roared to a 2-0 series lead on the back of a masterful Gabba Test win – but things were headed south until a moment of magic from Steve Smith. These are the moments that mattered.
Australia have all-but strangled England out of the Ashes – taking a 2-0 series lead after another dominant Gabba victory.
England fought as hard as they have on any day this series, but once they cracked it was open season for Australia with Michael Neser the unlikely day four hero as he bagged his maiden Test five-wicket haul.
He had a helping hand – specifically the magic hands of Steve Smith and Alex Carey – in dismantling England’s tail, before Travis Head, Jake Weatherald and Smith quickly wiped out the modest total of 65.
These are the moments that mattered on day four at the Gabba.
BAZBALL BENCHED, JACKS GETS BADGED
For three hours, Bazball appeared little more than a relic of England’s ugly past – Ben Stokes and Will Jacks dug in and the cavalier scoring disappeared.
Australia were turning the screws, and the dent in the helmet of Jacks from a searing Brendan Doggett bouncer.
Jacks had a quick assessment from the team medico, received a new helmet and battled on.
In a way it was the perfect snapshot of the opening session.
Australia threw plenty at England – an England team that had been savaged around the world for their lack of fight following Saturday’s disastrous day – but the tourists kept them at bay as they attempted to lift themselves from the canvas.
HEAD’S PAINFUL DROP
As England continued to frustrate Australia with their gruelling batting through the second session, chances were few and far between.
Australia’s catching has been elite through this series, but Travis Head was unable to pull off a miraculous catch when it came his way off Will Jacks.
Jacks fended a short-ball from Brendan Doggett into the path of Head at bat pad, but the scorching hot chance was grassed.
Fox Cricket revealed that 0.28s was the reaction time for Head – literally the blink of an eye – and it was certainly not enough for him to get his hands in place.
The ball ricocheted off his right thumb, into his right knee, and Jacks was given a life.
“It’s half a chance... maybe a quarter of a chance,” noted Mark Waugh, one of the greatest fielders in Australian history, in commentary.
STEVE SMITH TAKES CATCH OF THE SUMMER?
Talk about returning the favour.
After Will Jacks took an absolute screamer to dismiss Steve Smith on Friday, the Australian captain responded in kind with a beauty of his own to end the 96-run partnership with Ben Stokes.
Michael Neser managed to squeeze out an edge from Jacks, and it flew low and to the left at Smith who was fielding at a wide-ish first slip.
But the skipper produced one of the best catches of his career, diving low and scooping the ball up with his left hand millimetres above the turf.
STOKES HIT WHERE IT HURTS – THEN GONE
Ben Stokes put in a mighty effort, one that left legions of Australian fans letting their minds wander to his Headingley heroics.
He was immovable. Until he was floored by Michael Neser, copping an inside edge back into the groin.
Stokes was left gasping for air, but soon after Neser inflicted even more pain – only this time, it cost Stokes his wicket.
Neser managed to entice Stokes into a little nibble and he feathered a chance to Alex Carey, who took a superb catch up at the stumps to the paceman.
It called time on Stokes’ knock straight after reaching his half-century – and he was fuming as a result.
ENGLAND’S TAIL CRUMBLES, NESER GRABS FIVE
After fighting so hard for much of the first two sessions on Sunday, once things happened they happened quickly.
From the Jacks dismissal, England lost 4-17 to be 241 all out.
And it was Neser, a controversial selection ahead of Nathan Lyon, who grabbed the spotlight.
The Gabba specialist took three of the four scalps to fall on day four to seal his maiden five-wicket haul in Test cricket – firmly justifying his recall to the team.
It was a superb reward for the veteran quick, who bowled without reward in the first innings – but took two crucial caught-and-bowleds to break England’s back late on Saturday, and was again the destroyer just when the visitors desperately tried to claw their way towards an impossible victory.
His immaculate control pinned England’s batsmen down, an ultimately broke them.
HEAD, MARNUS FALL IN CHASE
It wasn’t a perfect chase for Australia – with Travis Head falling shortly after the break for a whirlwind 22
He chopped on, following the boom or bust approach at the top of the order, and Marnus Labuschagne followed suit shortly after for just three.
The Australian No.3 got a nasty delivery that reared up off a length. He attempted to fend it away but could only feather a chance to Jamie Smith behind the stumps – but it was the end of Australia’s stumbles
STEVE SMITH V JOFRA ARCHER
Steve Smith hit the winning runs with an almighty six off Gus Atkinson – finishing with 23 off just nine balls.
But the brunt of his punishment was born by Jofra Archer, with whom Smith has quite a bit of history.
It was Archer who was bowling when Smith was felled by a terrifying blow to the head at Lord’s during the 2019 Ashes.
There is a theory that Archer has the wood on Smith, and perhaps even that he exposed a weakness that Smith might have against express pace.
But the Australian proudly points out that he’s never been dismissed by the fearsome quick – in fact, no bowler in history has bowled more balls at the champion batsmen without claiming his wicket once.
There was plenty of chirp between the pair on Sunday, as Smith urged Archer to bowl faster and the Englishman obliged... only to be dispatched into the stands.
Originally published as Moments that Mattered: Steve Smith’s freak catch triggers Gabbatoir massacre
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