Sheffield Shield: Steve Smith knocked over for 0 in Queensland v NSW clash at the Gabba

Steve Smith confounded the England bowlers for over two months in the Ashes but it took Cameron Gannon just five balls to work out the former Aussie skipper in the Shield match at the Gabba.

Joe Burns walks off after making 13 against NSW. Picture: AAP Image/Albert Perez

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It was always going to take some-one special to chop down Steve Smith - like a fast bowler linked to that great cricketing nursery, the United States.

This was one of the quips doing the rounds after resilient Queensland paceman Cameron Gannon did what England couldn’t do in the Ashes - make the greatest batsmen of his era fail.

Somewhere in England Stuart Broad and company choked on their cornflakes when the stunning news arrived at breakfast time that Smith’s bat actually does have an outside edge.

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Steve Smith couldn’t make an indent on the scoreboard at the Gabba.

Gannon found it at the Gabba when the master slashed and edged a widish ball to Joe Burns at second slip for a fifth ball duck.

That’s right. To Steve Smith. The man with the barn door bat got a globe. A doughnut. A Gozza.

“It was pretty weird to be honest with you,’’ Gannon said.

Steve Smith departs for a 5-ball duck against Queensland. This is his first duck in seven years in the Sheffield Shield. #QLDvNSW #SheffieldShield

— CricTracker (@Cricketracker) October 10, 2019

“I didn’t really know what was going on, just put the ball in same spot all the time. A couple of things happened, which was nice.

“He’s obviously an abosute weapon off his pads, so plan was to go a bit wider.”

Smith slashed like he did hundreds of times in England where he found the middle of the bat with mesmeric regularity as if he was a blacksmith hammering a nail.

Cameron Gannon is the toast of Queensland.

This time the extra bounce got him.

It was Smith’s first first class duck in 54 innings since he failed against South Africa in Perth three years ago and the Gabba crowd which came to watch the first Sheffield Shield match of the summer between Queensland and NSW almost had to lift their jaws off the floor before they gasped in disbelief.

Gannon, whose mother is American, has been quietly playing for the United States in recent T20 games against sides like the Cayman Islands so he’s gone from playing teams stocked with the occasional butcher, baker or candlestick maker to snaring the world’s best player.

The dismissal was no fluke. Gannon harrassed the Blues top order and finished with 3-17 in a lively six over first spell after Queensland had been dismissed for 153 after winning the toss.

Harry Conway was the wrecker for NSW.

The dismissal was a worthy gold stud in Gannon’s career after he had earlier been banned for having a suspect action in a career which represents just 22 games since his debut in 2010.

“This is my 10th season with the Bulls. It’s been a long road but i think that preseason in England and going to the States really kind of refreshed me a bit.’’

NSW, buoyed by a rousing fast bowling effort from Harry Conway (5-17) will resume at 3-50 on Friday with David Warner 27 not out and looking a different man from the anguished figure who was ruthlessly dominated in the Ashes.

It was obvious from the first ball of the innings Warner would be a different player as he confidently punched Ashes squad-mate Michael Neser through the covers for three.

He was occasionally beaten by Gannon and Billy Stanlake but one smoking cover driven four when he went down on his knee and swung with vicious intent was a sign that he could be fully back in form as soon as this match and perhaps this innings.

Originally published as Sheffield Shield: Steve Smith knocked over for 0 in Queensland v NSW clash at the Gabba