Aussie star brutally sledges England batter after playing a leading role in turning the Poms’ tour into a disaster
Travis Head has dished up a brutal sledge to Jamie Smith after the England star’s disappointing dismissal during England’s first innings in Sydney.
Australia wrapped up a 4-1 series win with a five-wicket victory in Sydney on Thursday, with Head being named the player of the match.
In his first innings, the South Australian scored a sensational 163 runs off 166 deliveries, and was later crowned the leading scorer of the series, having amassed 629 runs.
But things didn’t quite go to plan in his second spell at the crease. With Australia chasing 160 runs, the South Australian larrikin came out and swept away four boundaries to bring up a score of 29.
He then attempted to swipe Josh Tongue away to cover, but mis-hit the shot, sending the ball careering straight up into the air. Brydon Carse took the catch, with Head having faced only 35 balls.
There was an air of self-deprecation in his sledge of Smith, noting that the Englishman had flailed at a bizarre ‘tennis-shot’ stroke at a delivery from Marnus Labuschagne, only to be caught out at cover by Scott Boland.
Travis Head has dished up a brutal sledge to Jamie Smith after the England star’s disappointing dismissal during England’s first innings in Sydney
Jamie Smith (pictured) was blasted after he had played what was described as a ‘brainless’ shot during England’s first innings, ultimately being caught out by Scott Boland
‘I thought, I wonder what it’d be like sitting in their dressing room sometimes and playing a pretty rank shot,’ Head said to ABC.
‘I’ll have a beer with Jamie Smith later and we can compare whose was worse,’ he quipped.
Smith has since been blasted for the shot, with former Australia coach Justin Langer claiming that it was ‘beyond comprehension’. Ex-England bowler Steven Finn branded it ‘brainless’.
Smith walked for 46 runs off 76 deliveries, and his departure came at a pretty crucial time, with Steve Smith deploying Labuschagne before lunch on day two to rattle through the overs in a bid to take the new ball after the interval.
Things went from bad to worse for Smith during England’s second innings, with the Surrey gloveman being run out by Jake Weatherald for 26, following a mix-up with Jacob Bethell.
Steve Smith has meanwhile declared an Ashes series win in England a high priority on Australia’s bucket list.
Set 160 to win on the final day at the SCG on Thursday, Australia fought through a nervy mid-innings collapse on their way to a five-wicket victory.
Australia have now held the Ashes since January 2017, with dead-rubber defeat in Melbourne last week their sole home loss in the last 20 Tests against England.
But away from home it has been a different story, drawing the last two series after entering the final Test at The Oval ahead 2-1.
Smith is yet to confirm if he will be there in 2027, continuing his series-by-series approach, but has confirmed he plans to play Australia’s next Test against Bangladesh in August.
And the longer time goes on it appears more likely he and senior teammates will tour India and England in 2027.
‘It’s something that was always on my bucket list,’ Smith said.
‘I would love to have won in, you know, India and England.
‘Whether I’ll be there or not … I’m not sure. We’ll see.
‘I’ll take it day by day, game by game. One day I might wake up and say I’ve had enough, but we’ll see.’
In many ways, Sydney was emblematic of the entire series.
Head (pictured) joked that he would have a beer with Smith after the match to compare who hit the worst shot, after he was dismissed on Thursday in a similar fashion
England had their chances to take victory, with captain Ben Stokes admitting their first-innings 384 was around 100 short with the bat.
The tourists again wasted the new ball as Smith’s and Travis Head’s centuries helped Australia to 567, and gave the hosts enough of a first-innings buffer.
Ultimately it meant that when a Marnus Labuschagne run out headlined a mini collapse from 2-92 to 5-121, Australia had enough breathing space for Alex Carey (16no) and Cameron Green (22no) to get them home.
The only sour point for Australia will be that Usman Khawaja missed a chance to hit the final runs, bowled for six by Brydon Carse in his last Test before retirement.
For England, there is regret all around.
Jacob Bethell offered hope for the future by turning his maiden first-class century into a big 154, but a heavy period of introspection looms.
Questions will be asked of Brendon McCullum’s future as coach, the team’s playing style and overall culture of the group after a tour of wasted opportunities.
Australia’s 4-1 series victory this summer will go down as one of their most impressive, considering who they have done it without.
Steve Smith has meanwhile declared an Ashes series win in England a high priority on Australia’s bucket list
Pat Cummins played just one Test, Josh Hazlewood was sidelined for the whole summer and Nathan Lyon bowled two overs in Perth before being hurt in Adelaide.
Khawaja and Smith both missed a Test through injury, with Smith and Cummins never on the park together.
Yet they made it work.
Head’s 69-ball century in Perth, when moved up to open for an injured Khawaja, set the tone for the summer, with more tons at the top following in Perth and Sydney.
Starc was superb without the rest of his long-time bowling mates, claiming player-of-the-series honours with 31 wickets at 19.93.
Michael Neser and Scott Boland both stood up, and Alex Carey had 28 dismissals behind the stumps and an average of 46.14 with the bat.
‘I think that’s what makes a really good team,’ Smith said.
‘(Mitch) in particular, has been incredible. He’s led the attack in all five games. Him and Scotty playing all five games was a huge effort.
‘Trav and Alex were obviously other guys that had incredible performances throughout the series.
‘Everyone else stood up at different moments.
‘We won those big moments throughout the series and that’s what makes a series.’
