England have already run out of options to combat Steve Smith ... or have they?

Across four days of the Edgbaston Test England have wilted in the face of the majesty of Steve Smith. But there is one change they could make that might - just might - save a seemingly lost cause.

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Plan A was crocked after four overs and Plan B simply didn’t work, while the less said about Plans C, D and E the better.

In truth, all of England’s best laid plans to stifle the great Steve Smith went to pieces when confronted with the master craftsman and world’s supreme red-ball batsman.

At various points during the day the indefatigable Australian wore down everyone: from England’s bowlers to the Barmy Army, who lost their voice as he ploughed on past 100 and could barely muster the energy to boo the man they’ve berated all Test.

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Captain Joe Root threw his hands in the air as one of Smith’s 14 boundaries skipped over the Birmingham outfield, while his deputy stood splay-legged at first slip with a quizzical look smeared across his face.

England's captain Joe Root was at a loss as how to remove Steve Smith across two innings.

Try as they might, England couldn’t find an answer.

England assistant coach Graham Thorpe has been in awe of Smith’s performances, but hinted that there were a few tactics England could yet deploy to unsettle the great star.

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“We ran through a number of plans in this match,” Thorpe said.

“Maybe we have a few more up our sleeve as well.

Root saw the threat of Moeen Ali completely blunted by Australia’s batsmen.

“You have to give him credit for the way he has played, two fantastic innings and he has managed to put Australia in a position where they have momentum in their favour.”

Moeen Ali toiled for 42 overs across the two innings for scant reward (three wickets at a cost of 57 runs apiece).

Moeen had a torrid away Ashes tour 19 months ago, in which he was humiliated by Australia’s batsman — taking just five wickets at 115 — and averaged 19.8 with the bat, while falling victim to Nathan Lyon seven times in a shambolic summer.

Lyon took just four balls at Edgbaston to renew his rivalry with his bunny and Moeen appears to be a walking wicket when the GOAT is lurking — meaning England must surely be thinking about leaving him out of the Lord’s Test.

The left-arm spin of Jack Leach could be England’s most effective solution to Steve Smith.

Joe Denly’s leggies and Root’s own brand of off-spin were also extensively used in the hope of an answer.

Oh how they would’ve liked to have been able to call on Jack Leach, the 28-year-old spinner who captured headlines a week ago for his batting exploits after saving England’s bacon with a 92-run performance after being promoted to open as a nightwatchman against Ireland.

Because, in Leach, England possesses a player who could be Smith’s kryptonite this series.

Smith’s exploits in recent years have seemed superhuman, but there is one form of bowling against which he is decidedly mortal: left-arm spin.

CricViz analysis reveals Smith’s record plummets when confronted with left-arm orthodox spin, which is comfortably his least favourite bowling to face.

Sri Lanka’s ageless Rangana Herath worked Smith over like few bowlers in history have been able to, taking his wicket five times in just three Tests — while India’s Ravindra Jadeja has four Smith scalps and South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj three.

With 250 first class wickets at 25.29 — and a similar record through his five Tests, which have delivered 20 wickets at 26.2 — Leach is a seasoned county campaigner who could be the answer to England’s woes.