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Ashes 2019: Australia’s one-man act exposed as Steve Smith runs out of magic

A fragile batting line-up’s reliance on Steve Smith has been laid bare by a poor display in the series finale | WATCH

Peter Lalor and Tom Crystal
14 min read
3:59AMSeptember 14, 2019.
Updated 4:19PMSeptember 14, 2019
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Chris Woakes removes Steve Smith for 80 in the final session on day two. Picture: AFP
Chris Woakes removes Steve Smith for 80 in the final session on day two. Picture: AFP

Australia vs England, day two of the 5th Ashes Test from The Oval. England are 0-9 in their second innings, a lead of 78 runs. Australia made 225.

Peter Lalor 3.45am: Smith runs out of magic

Steve Smith could not save Australia this time. Out for 80, he fell short of a fourth century on tour as the team fell 69 runs short of England’s first-innings total.

Australia were rolled for 225 in the final session after collapsing to 8-187.

It has been a largely disappointing performance by the team who put England in and then failed to make the most of their opportunities on day one.

That trend continued when Marcus Harris dropped a straightforward chance from Joe Denly at slip late on day two. Josh Hazlewood was the unlucky bowler.

Smith weighs up challenging his dismissal before leaving the field. Picture: Getty Images
Smith weighs up challenging his dismissal before leaving the field. Picture: Getty Images

Rory Burns had an lbw decision overturned off the last ball of the day to add to the disappointment.

England lead by 79 with 10 wickets in hand going into day three.

The Australian openers failed again and only Marnus Labuschagne showed any intent to hang around. Again.

This time the young batsman was out for 48.

Day two belonged to Jofra Archer and Sam Curran. Archer took 6-62 but is still yet to get Smith. Archer now has two six-wicket hauls in a career that is yet to include four whole Tests.

Smith started shakily but soon established himself, bringing up his 50 with a six. But he fell lbw to Chris Woakes on the first ball he faced after drinks in the third session.

Justin Langer was not happy with his side’s performance on the first day and will not have had his mood improved by the way they batted on the second.

Jofra Archer takes another wicket. Picture: AFP
Jofra Archer takes another wicket. Picture: AFP

Match blog below — how day two unfolded:

3.33am: Wicket overturned!

Drama on the final ball of the day. Josh Hazlewood gets Rory Burns out lbw but the left-hander immediately challenges the decision. It’s pitching outside leg, so umpire Kumar Dharmasena is asked to change his call. Burns (4) survives and that’s all for day two. England are well on top.

3.29am: Dropped!

Marcus Harris, fielding at a wide fourth slip, spills a straightforward chance off Joe Denly as he prods at a good delivery. Josh Hazlewood is the unlucky bowler. It caps a miserable day for Harris and the Australian team.

3.17am: Ouch!

A searing short ball from Pat Cummins hits the glove of Rory Burns and slams into the grille of his helmet. The England physio runs onto the field to check on the opener, who is OK to bat on.

Pat Cummins checks on Rory Burns after he hit the batsman. Picture: Getty Images
Pat Cummins checks on Rory Burns after he hit the batsman. Picture: Getty Images

3.12am: Second innings begins

Rory Burns takes strike with England on top, leading by 69 runs. Pat Cummins charges in — we have about 17 minutes remaining on day two.

Jofra Archer salutes the crowd after a five-wicket haul. Picture: Getty Images
Jofra Archer salutes the crowd after a five-wicket haul. Picture: Getty Images

3.02am: WICKET!

Australia are all out. Rory Burns produces a screamer in the gully to remove Peter Siddle, who tries to guide Jofra Archer down to the third man boundary. Burns intercepts with a one-handed grab, diving to his right. Archer finishes with 6-62.

2.55am: WICKET!

Jofra Archer uses a slower ball to flummox Nathan Lyon and clean up his stumps. The off-spinner’s bright cameo ends on 25, after four boundaries and a six.

2.50am: Lyon on the charge

Nathan Lyon and Peter Siddle aren’t planning to hang around too long — attacking Chris Woakes and Jofra Archer in a bid to reduce the first-innings deficit. Lyon hits Woakes for two boundaries in one over, then a four and big six over square leg. Siddle is more orthodox, driving square for a beautiful boundary. Australia trail by less than 80.

Nathan Lyon hits out. Picture: AFP
Nathan Lyon hits out. Picture: AFP

2.25am: WICKET!

Steve Smith falls for 80, trapped lbw as he moves across the crease and is hit in front by the first ball of a new Chris Woakes spell. Smith’s lowest score of the series sparks plenty of applause — no apparent boos — as he walks off the ground.

2.15am: Looking for a repeat

Peter Siddle and Steve Smith were in a similarly fraught position in the first Test, when Australia slipped to 8-122. Siddle contributed 44 in an 88-run partnership for the ninth wicket that enabled Smith to reach a ton and Australia to win the match. Can they reproduce some of that here?

Sam Curran gets airborne after taking two wickets in two balls. Picture: AFP
Sam Curran gets airborne after taking two wickets in two balls. Picture: AFP

1.49am: Curran on a hat-trick!

Pat Cummins is out first ball, lbw to the left-armer. He calls for a review but it shows the delivery hitting halfway up leg stump. The hat-trick ball, a low full toss, is edged past gully for four.

1.45am: WICKET!

Australia in trouble as Tim Paine feathers an edge from Sam Curran to Jonny Bairstow for one. The visitors slip to 6-166, still trailing by 128 runs.

1.30am: Smith dropped!

He chases a wide, short ball from Sam Curran and edges high to slips — to the right of Joe Root and left of Ben Stokes. Both men go for the catch but Root can’t hang on as it squirts out of the right mitt. Smith gets a life on 66.

1.22am: WICKET!

Mitchell Marsh (17) hangs his head after pulling a waist-high Jofra Archer delivery straight to Jack Leach at fine leg. Marsh looks disappointed and so he should. Australia will need a good lead on this pitch but still trail by 134 runs.

1am: Big session looms

Jofra Archer (3-30) starts proceedings after tea. There are a minimum of 39 overs to bowl, which is unlikely.

Peter Lalor 12.50am: A familiar story

Stop me if you’ve heard this before ...

Steve Smith has brought up his 10th consecutive Test match half-century against England. This is the most consistent performance by any batsman in an Ashes series.

He brought up the historic milestone with a six over mid-on from the bowling of Jack Leach.

Marnus Labuschagne was denied the chance to notch his fifth half century when he was trapped in front by Jofra Archer on 48.

Matthew Wade was out in a similar manager to Sam Curran on 19. Smith (59o) and Mitchell Marsh (12no) will resume after tea with the score on 4-147.

Steve Smith works Jack Leach away. Picture: Getty Images
Steve Smith works Jack Leach away. Picture: Getty Images

12.42am: Tea

At the break Australia are halfway to England’s first innings, reaching 4-147, with Steve Smith on 59 and Mitchell Marsh 12.

12.25am: 50 to Smith!

Steve Smith dances down the pitch and smashes spinner Jack Leach over mid-on for six. It brings up his 10th straight Test half-century against England. The right-hander also has more than 700 runs for the series (six innings), meaning he will end it with an average above 100.

12.10am: WICKET!

After an earlier escape, Matthew Wade is sent packing lbw to Sam Curran for 19. The batsman calls for a review but finds no joy. From the naked eye that looked to be sliding past leg stump. Ball tracker may have had a drink at lunch!

11.50pm: Review wasted

Chris Woakes hits Matthew Wade on the pads and goes up for lbw, which is denied by umpire Kumar Dharmasena. Joe Root calls for a review, which shows the ball missing off stump. Interestingly, it looks like Wade has got an inside edge but “snicko” doesn’t agree. “I smashed it,” the bemused batsman tells Dharmasena.

11.30pm: WICKET!

Marnus Labuschagne falls lbw to Jofra Archer as he shuffles across the crease and is hit in front. The batsman heads up to the non-striker’s end, seemingly to try and gain support from Steve Smith for a challenge but his batting partner advises him not to bother. Australia slip to 3-83. Labuschagne’s 48 came off 84 balls and contained 10 boundaries.

11.10pm: Digging in

The post-lunch session is turning into a war of attrition, as England pacemen Jofra Archer and Stuart Broad stick, mostly, to a tight line outside off stump. The odd loose delivery is dispatched ruthlessly by Steve Smith: a couple of back foot drives race to the boundary square of the wicket.

Steve Smith whacks Stuart Broad for four. Picture: AP
Steve Smith whacks Stuart Broad for four. Picture: AP

10.40pm: Second session underway

Australia set off again in pursuit of England’s first innings on a pitch that looks good to bat on. Jofra Archer, 1-7 off 7 overs, takes up the attack.

England head out onto the field on day two. Picture: AFP
England head out onto the field on day two. Picture: AFP

Peter Lalor 10.20pm: Doubts over Warner dismissal

Australia are 2-55 at lunch. The openers were gone before the sixth over, which is no surprise.

Marnus Labuschagne (32no) and Steve Smith (14no) are setting about cleaning up after that mess. As usual.

This Ashes cannot end fast enough for David Warner, who was dismissed in single figures for the eighth time in the series.

He could take some comfort that it was Jofra Archer, not Stuart Broad, who took his wicket but none from his decision-making or fortune.

The cross-bat shot he came up with in the second over was unnecessary but was made worse by the fact he’d played similarly in the first. Warner did not look to be out, replays suggested the ball passed the edge of the bat without making contact, but the sound monitoring was of a different opinion and umpire Marais Erasmus was forced to change his decision.

No opener has ever performed as poorly as Warner in an Ashes and the 32-year-old must endure one more innings before leaving his horror stretch behind.

10pm: Lunch

Steve Smith survives a testing spell from left-armer Sam Curran to reach 14 at the end of the first session, while Marnus Labuschagne has 32. Curran has caused Smith some discomfort by moving the ball back into the right-hander, hitting him on the pads while he fails to offer a shot. Risky batting.

9.45pm: Close!

Marnus Labuschagne rides his luck, slashing at a wide Sam Curran delivery that flies past a diving Ben Stokes at second slip and down to the boundary for four.

Ben Stokes after barely missing a catch off Marnus Labuschagne. Picture: Getty Images
Ben Stokes after barely missing a catch off Marnus Labuschagne. Picture: Getty Images

9.35pm: A let-off for Marnus ...

England were all over the faint nick from David Warner that was sent for a TV review but they appear to have missed a trick with Australia’s No.3. Sky Sports commentator Nasser Hussain points out the missed caught behind below, which happened when Australia were 1-10 and Labuschagne had two.

9.25pm: An unwanted record

9.04pm: WICKET!

Here we go again. Jofra Archer has another, this time Marcus Harris edging to Ben Stokes, who takes a brilliant catch at second slip. Harris is out for three, Australia are 2-14 and Steve Smith strides out to the middle with his team again in deep trouble.

8.44pm: WICKET!

A big appeal after David Warner slashes at a wide ball from Jofra Archer which goes through to the keeper. Umpire Marais Erasmus is unmoved so Joe Root calls for a review, which eventually shows a faint nick in the form of a snicko reaction. Warner’s out for five, Australia are 1-5.

8.37pm: Warner faces the music

No hiding for the struggling opener, who faces up to Stuart Broad to start Australia’s innings. He flashes at a wide ball and misses, then pushes to cover for a single and thus ends his run of consecutive ducks at three.

Peter Lalor 8.30pm: Opening salvo

Mitchell Marsh took his first ever five-wicket haul as Australia brought England’s innings to a close with the home side on 294.

David Warner now prepares to face Stuart Broad, who has taken his wicket six times this series and lives in his head.

Warner was noticeably more leg side of the ball in training this week, opening up the chance to be bowled, but reducing the likelihood he will be trapped lbw, his most common mode of dismissal.

Stay tuned.

8.24pm: WICKET!

Day-one hero Mitchell Marsh removes Jack Leach for 21 to pick up his first five-wicket haul in Tests. He finishes with 5-46 as England are dismissed for 294.

Mitchell Marsh bowls Jack Leach to end England’s first innings. Picture: Getty Images
Mitchell Marsh bowls Jack Leach to end England’s first innings. Picture: Getty Images

8.18pm: WICKET!

Jos Buttler aims a big drive at Pat Cummins but gets an inside edge onto his pads and into off stump. It ends a valuable 68-run stand with Jack Leach (21). Stuart Broad is last man in.

8pm: Day two begins

Pat Cummins steams in to Jos Buttler (64) with a second new ball only two overs old. It’s bright and sunny, currently 17C heading for a top of 21C.

Jos Buttler hits out against Pat Cummins on day two. Picture: AP
Jos Buttler hits out against Pat Cummins on day two. Picture: AP

Peter Lalor 7.45pm: Bowlers look for fast start

Joe Denly was late to the ground for the second day of the Test match, distracted by the birth of his second baby.

Allan Border was batting at the SCG when his arrived.

The Australians hopefully spent the night examining their patchy performance on day one.

Jos Buttler is 64no and Jack Leach 10no.

England had Australia on the ropes at lunch (1-86) and tea (3-169), Australia fought them off to have them 8-226.

Buttler has wrested back the advantage.

The Australian bowlers who started in such average manner yesterday must not do the same today, the fielders who dropped Joe Root thrice must improve.

Reserves are low on both sides, it was no coincidence Mitch Marsh grabbed the moment when given the opportunity and should he complete his first career five-wicket haul today it will be well deserved.

Here’s his best moment from last night’s press conference. If you haven’t watched it please do. “Most of Australia hate me,” he said with a laugh.

He was apparently cool with that.

“Australians are passionate, they love their cricket, they want people to do well,” he rationalised. “There’s no doubt that I’ve had a lot of opportunity at Test level and I haven’t quite nailed it but hopefully they can respect me for the fact I keep coming back, I love playing for Australia, I love wearing the baggy green cap. I keep trying, hopefully I win them over one day.”

7pm: ‘Most Australians hate me’

An inspired spell of bowling from Mitchell Marsh has put an end to his year of hell and presented Australia with a golden opportunity to take control of the fifth Test, AAP reports.

The West Australian all-rounder, whose last Test appearance against India saw him booed by the MCG crowd, turned those jeers into cheers after finishing with career-best figures of 4-35 on day one.

The Boxing Day Test defeat was the start of a torrid run for the likeable 27-year-old that saw him lose the vice-captaincy, his place in all Australia’s teams and then his Cricket Australia central contract in April.

A lack of form, injury and death of one of his closest friends, also hit Marsh hard but on Thursday he enjoyed a day to remember in south London with a superb spell of bowling after tea where he got the ball to swing prodigiously. Marsh has come to terms with not being a favourite with Australia cricket fans, but is hopeful his performance, following his surprise selection ahead of Travis Head, can silence some of his critics.

“Most of Australia hate me,” Marsh joked. “Australians are passionate, they love their cricket, they want people to do well.

“There’s no doubt that I’ve had a lot of opportunities at Test level and I haven’t quite nailed it but hopefully they can respect me for the fact I keep coming back.

“Hopefully I win them over one day.”

Marsh has spent the whole Ashes series mixing drinks and biding his time on the sidelines on 12th man duties and admitted he was surprised to get the call-up into the side and determined to make the most of his opportunity. “I certainly worked hard the last five months to get an opportunity again,” he said.

“When you have setbacks you always think the worst, I thought I might not play again after a summer like I had last year.

“There was a range of stuff there ... a few things in my personal life I lost a close friend to suicide at the start of the summer.

“When things like that happen I didn’t handle it as well as I could have. “It transitioned into my cricket at times as well. I understand everyone goes through tough periods in their life.

“I certainly didn’t handle that as best as I could.

“I just worked my bum off hoping to get another opportunity. Today was a really pleasing day.”

— AAP

Mitchell Marsh dismisses Sam Curran. Picture: Getty Images
Mitchell Marsh dismisses Sam Curran. Picture: Getty Images

6pm: Buttler: Test in the balance

Jos Buttler tried to hit England out of trouble on day one and declared the series decider to be “in the balance” at stumps, AAP reports.

England lost 5-56 in the evening session, including Joe Root for 57, and would have been in dire straits were it not for a late onslaught from Buttler. He hit six boundaries and three handsome sixes on his way to 64 not out.

It was his first half-century of a difficult English summer of Test cricket and helped keep England’s hopes of a 2-2 draw alive.

“Having lost the toss we got into a very good position and it’s a shame to not quite be able to capitalise on that,” Buttler said.

“Maybe it’s a little bit in the balance. There’s a bit in the wicket for both batters and bowlers and if you play well and apply yourself there are runs to be had.

“There’s not many times Australia bowl first so we were a little bit surprised — it showed there was a little bit of indecision with the way the wicket looked.”

— AAP

4.15pm: Legends surprised by Paine’s call

Tim Paine surprised England’s dressing room, long-time personal mentor Ricky Ponting and legend Shane Warne by opting to bowl first in the fifth Ashes Test. Paine called correctly for a fourth time in the five-Test series but what came next shocked counterpart Joe Root, who struggled to hide his glee when invited to bat first at The Oval.

The London venue, where the hosts rallied after losing 6-96 to finish 8-271 at stumps on Thursday, is renowned for being among England’s most batsman-friendly grounds.

Paine’s decision flew in the face of Ian Chappell’s oft-quoted theory that nine times out of ten you bat first; the tenth time you think about it and still bat first.

Tim Paine. Picture: Getty Images
Tim Paine. Picture: Getty Images

Ponting and Warne suggested on Sky Sports that Australia’s captain, who holds a 2-1 series lead and is chasing Australia’s first Ashes series win in England since 2001, got it wrong.

“The sun was out, it’s a good forecast for the week. It might have been a bit difficult this first session, there might be the odd one that moves around … but there’s no way it looked like to me it was going to go all over the place,” Warne said.

“If you win the toss and bowl first, you expect to take three to four wickets in the first session.” Joe Denly was the single wicket to fall in Thursday’s morning session, although Root was dropped twice.

“Having a look at the pitch, there was a lot of live green grass on the wicket but when you looked away from those areas it was quite dry,” Ponting said. Paine suggested at the toss he was “a bit split on what to do”, describing the pitch as “strange”.

Jos Buttler, who will resume on 64 when day two starts, admitted England were surprised to hear of Paine’s decision.

“We were going to bat. There’s not many times Australia bowl first … it showed there was a little bit of indecision just with the way the wicket looked,” Buttler said.

“It’s not quite how an Oval wicket would look 10 years ago when you’d turn up and know you’d bat.

“It’s actually been a pretty good cricket wicket.”

AAP

Mike Atherton 4.00pm: Aussies’ gift to England

Australians are rarely as giving as this. The sight of a struggling England captain, under scrutiny for his form, his ability to lead from the front and inspire, usually brings out their predatory and ruthless nature, but on the first day at the Oval they were anything but.

Generous in selection, at the toss, with their catching and no balls, they offered Joe Root a lifeboat in his hour of need.

Read more here

More Coverage

Unlikely ending for Smith
Mike Atherton
Reality of Warner’s dismissals
Gideon Haigh
Read related topics:Ashes

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