Australia opening batsman Travis Head has aimed a brutal dig at England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith after the home side’s victory in the fifth and final Ashes Test in Sydney.
While Australia’s players bask in the glory of their 4-1 Ashes series victory over England, Brendon McCullum’s side will likely be looking forward to returning home after what can only be described as a disastrous series.
England had already lost the five-match series before Christmas, following defeats in Perth, Brisbane, and Adelaide, but did make it 3-1 after a Boxing Day Test win at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
But normal service resumed in Test five as Australia crowned their series with yet another Test victory over the tourists.
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Despite 22-year-old Jacob Bethell and Joe Root both making scores in excess of 150 in the match, the Aussies won by five wickets.
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Makeshift opening batsman Head was awarded Man of the Match after smashing 163 from 166 balls in the first innings at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), but got out cheaply for 29 in the second innings.
Despite this, the 32-year-old still registered 629 runs in the series – the most of any batsman and 229 more than second highest run getter, Root.
Shortly after his side’s victory, the South Australian spoke in a press conference and could not help but rub salt into the wounds of England and out-of-form batsman Smith.
When speaking about how his second-innings dismissal was cheap, Head said: "I wonder what it would be like to be in their dressing room sometimes and play a pretty rank shot. Me and Smithy, Jamie Smith, I'll have a beer with Jamie Smith later, and we can compare whose was worse.”
Of course, Smith has struggled throughout the series and averaged just 23.44 in ten innings with a high score of 60.
Smith’s low average is one thing, but the manner in which he has been dismissed has been equally disappointing, with ex-England bowler and TNT Sports commentator Steven Finn branding his first innings dismal in Sydney as “completely brainless”.
BBC chief cricket commentator Jonathan Agnew also described the dismissal as "one of the worst I have ever seen".
On the second day of the fifth Test, Smith got out for 46 after he looped part-time bowler Marnus Labuschagne’s delivery straight to Scott Boland.
The 25-year-old Surrey wicket-keeper has already been omitted from England’s squad ahead of the white-ball series in Sri Lanka, as well as the T20 World Cup squad.
Topics: Cricket
Luke Davies