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Steve Smith's form sparks huge concerns amid 'embarrassing' Ashes drama

The former Test captain has only produced one significant score so far this series.

sam goodwin
Sports Editor
·5-min read
Steve Smith, pictured here in the fourth Ashes Test.
Steve Smith was caught down the leg side in the fourth Ashes Test. Image: Getty

Cricket fans are beginning to question the lack of impact that Steve Smith is having on the Ashes series after another failure with the bat on day three in Manchester. The Aussie vice-captain managed just 17 on Friday as Australia slumped to 4-113 at stumps, still 162 runs behind England.

After England amassed 592 and capitalised on some questionable captaincy calls from Pat Cummins, Australia lost Usman Khawaja (18), David Warner (28), Smith and Travis Head (1) as Mark Wood took 3-17 in a brutal display. Amid the carnage, many have turned the blowtorch on the form of Smith.

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The prolific run-scorer was lucky not to be out second ball when he nicked to Joe Root at first slip. The ball bounced fractionally in front of Root's hands, although a number of England players called on the umpires to check with the third umpire.

Smith survived the close shave after Root failed to appeal with much vigour, but he was out not long after when he gloved a delivery from Wood through to Jonny Bairstow while trying to play a half-hearted hook shot. The former Test captain made a brilliant 110 in the second Test at Lord's, but it marks his only significant score of the series.

So far he has made 16, 6, 110, 34, 22, 2, 41 and 17 at an average of 31 - which would be much lower if not for his hundred at Lord's. His efforts in the second innings of Test matches pose even more of a concern for Australia, where he has never managed to reach triple figures in his illustrious career.

Since December last year, Smith has averaged just 24.38 in the second innings of matches, with only two fifties in 22 innings. Away from home, he averages 19.25.

Across his entire Test career he averages 73.34 in the first dig and 38.19 in the second. Fans were quick to highlight Smith's relatively lean run after his dismissal on Friday.

Steve Smith involved in fresh catch controversy

Smith's near-miss with Root also raised plenty of eyebrows, with the Aussie appearing to take exception to the fact that his England counterpart wasn't sure if he'd caught it or not. Root never really appealed at first, but appeared to believe he'd caught it cleanly as he watched replays.

A number of fans and commentators pointed out that Smith claimed a contentious catch against Root in the second Test when it looked as though a part of the ball had touched the grass. On that occasion Root was given out, and some were critical of Smith's sportsmanship.

Steve Smith and Joe Root.
Steve Smith and Joe Root exchange words during the fourth Ashes Test. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)

“I think a lot of the time you can go on the fielder’s reaction,” Ricky Ponting said in commentary. “There’s certain times when you’re 100 per cent positive you’ve caught it, I think if he was positive there, Joe, he would’ve thrown that straight up.

“The fact that he looked down at the ground as well, he actually kept his eyes down to see if he could find a spot where it might have touched the grass. They are so close, they are so touch and go."

Aussie journalist Ronny Lerner tweeted: “How’s the spirit of cricket on show there from Joe Root, claiming the catch when it clearly hit the ground. After seconds of contemplation, he was mouthing the words ‘that’s out’ a few times while raising his index finger.”

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