On a sun-drenched morning at the Sydney Cricket Ground, the 2025-26 Ashes series delivered one of its most unforgettable—and unfortunate—moments for England’s Jamie Smith. As the second day of the fifth Test unfolded, Smith’s dismissal at the hands of Australia’s Marnus Labuschagne became the talk of cricketing circles, sparking a frenzy of commentary, criticism, and disbelief from players, pundits, and fans alike. It was a wicket that, for all the wrong reasons, will echo in Ashes folklore for years to come.
England, having struggled through a series riddled with untimely wickets and questionable shot selection, found themselves with a glimmer of hope as Smith and Joe Root stitched together a resilient 94-run partnership. Root, ever the anchor, marched toward another majestic century, while Smith, on 46, looked set to finally make a meaningful contribution after a lean run of form. But as lunch approached, Australia’s captain threw a curveball—literally and figuratively—by tossing the ball to Labuschagne, a part-timer more renowned for his batting than his bowling.
The move raised eyebrows in the commentary box. Former Australia coach Justin Langer, speaking on Seven, did not mince words: “I can’t understand this. As a batsman, would you rather this (Labuschagne’s gentle medium-pacers) or Beau Webster at 6ft 7in?” His skepticism was shared by many. Even BBC’s chief cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew remarked, “Marnus Labuschagne usually bowls wrist-spin but is being employed here as a bouncer bowler. And there is nobody within reach of the batsman. You cannot be bounced out by Marnus Labuschagne in a Test match! This is just a bizarre passage of play.”
Yet, the improbable happened. With seven fielders stationed deep, Labuschagne delivered a short ball that Smith, perhaps sensing an easy scoring opportunity, attempted to swat over the infield. Instead, he picked out Scott Boland at deep extra cover with a flat-batted swipe—a shot so ill-judged that it left even seasoned observers speechless. Agnew’s immediate reaction captured the mood: “No. No! I have seen a lot of cricket and that is one of the worst dismissals I have ever seen.”
The fallout was swift and severe. Langer, who had just questioned the decision to bowl Labuschagne, was forced into a rare on-air mea culpa. “You should never be too proud to apologise (and) I’m apologising to Marnus Labuschagne. Well bowled, brilliant bowling, dumb batting. Getting out like that, there’s got to be some questions asked from their leadership. It’s unforgivable when he’s playing for his spot in the Test side.” He went further, branding Smith’s stroke “one of the dumbest shots you’ll ever see in Test cricket.”
Former England fast bowler Steven Finn, commentating for TNT, was equally blunt: “That’s completely brainless. I cannot believe what I’ve seen there. That’s going to be a very quiet dressing room for Jamie Smith to walk back into.” Alex Hartley, a World Cup winner with England, was scathing: “That is filthy. Absolutely filthy. It is disgusting. We literally just said you cannot get out to this filth and he has given his wicket away. What is that?! That is just a lack of discipline.”
Smith’s dismissal did not come in isolation. His innings had already been marked by a series of let-offs. On 22, he was caught at cover off Cameron Green, only for the delivery to be called a no-ball. The very next ball, he edged between wicketkeeper Alex Carey and first slip Beau Webster, both of whom stood rooted to the spot. He top-edged Green over the slips on 30, and on 34, miscued a pull that just evaded mid-on. It was, as former England paceman Stuart Broad noted, “a horrible dismissal,” and he suggested it might have serious consequences for Smith’s future in the Test side.
“It was a pretty unusual innings, actually, not just an unusual dismissal,” Broad reflected. “I’ve seen a lot of former England players in the back of the commentary box saying, ‘it’s the worst dismissal I’ve ever seen’. So if we’re talking about it in that category, it shows how much dismay it has caused the English.”
Smith’s struggles are emblematic of England’s wider woes this Ashes tour. Since notching a remarkable 184 against India at Edgbaston in July, his average has plummeted from nearly 59 to 42. In Australia, he’s managed to pass 50 only once, with his highest score in the series a battling 60 in Adelaide—an innings that also ended in a soft dismissal. His keeping, too, has come under the microscope, with missed chances in Brisbane and lapses in concentration behind the stumps.
The Sydney dismissal, however, was the nadir. It summed up what many see as a lack of discipline and clarity in England’s approach. Michael Vaughan, former England captain, was particularly forthright: “Jamie Smith is nowhere near the rhythm he should be. This England team have to start to learn and accept. I read something that said Jamie Smith will probably get a pat on the back for trying to take the game on. That is the culture that is being created in this England side and that is why they have failed on this tour. There are times to get on the front foot but when it is so close to lunch and Marnus Labuschagne is bowling bouncers. I cannot accept that. It sums up this England side.”
Fans, too, weighed in with a mix of humor and frustration. One England supporter wrote on X: “Jamie Smith thank-you for a great laugh. Imagine getting out like that to Marnus. Brook is usually good for a laugh at some of his dismissals but that takes the cake.” Another added: “Did Jamie Smith replace his brain with a dynamite stick before he went out to bat.”
As the action continued, England found themselves at 384/9, still looking to push past the 400 mark and keep their hopes alive in the match. But the reverberations from Smith’s dismissal were hard to ignore. It was more than just a wicket; it was a moment that encapsulated England’s frailties and the pressure-cooker environment of Ashes cricket.
For Jamie Smith, the road ahead is uncertain. His place in the England side is now under intense scrutiny, with selectors and fans alike questioning whether he can regain the composure and discipline that once made him a rising star. For now, his Sydney swipe stands as a cautionary tale—a reminder that in Test cricket, moments of madness can define a series, a career, and even an era.
