Taking on Sri Lanka’s best slow bowler in the first of Australia’s innings, Steve Smith was dismissed 12 balls after Usman Khawaja.
Right at that moment, Australia’s hope of a Test victory were in jeopardy.
It wasn’t so much the fact that Smith was dismissed after the Aussies had lost early wickets, it was the mode of dismissal that many took exception to.
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Having resumed at 2-66, still 48 runs in arrears, Smith took two off the first over from seamer Nuwan Pradeep before facing up to his first ball from veteran left-arm spinner Rangana Herath.
Renowned for his ability to play spin, Smith ran down the wicket, and with an ugly swipe, connected with nothing but air.
All that was left was for Sri Lanka’s wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal to complete what was a simple stumping as the Aussie skipper trudged off the field cursing himself.
Early on, a batsman’s innings can go either of two ways. You can take risks early to try and spread the field then take advantage of pushing singles into the gaps, or, you can assess the conditions, taking a few overs to get yourself ‘in’.
Either way, the difference between success and failure is a fine line.
If Smith hits a boundary, all of a sudden the field spreads a bit and then he can knock the singles around. Reality was though, an ugly looking swipe that cost him his wicket.
In the lead up to the opening Test, the Aussies drafted in slow bowling coaches as well as utilised local net spin bowlers in the hope of blunting Sri Lanka’s bowling attack.
Perhaps it was because Australia hadn’t played a Test since February this year but shot selection and execution left a lot to be desired.
Despite numerous interruptions and having made a poor start, the home team fought back well to clinch the opening match of a three-Test series. On the other hand, the number-one ranked Australia, will be looking to avoid further embarrassment against a much-lower ranked team, who have struggled in recent times.
Broken=hearted Toy
Guest
Premeditation just looks dumb early on before a player has the measure of the wicket and bowlers, but they love playing high risk cricket, and they are encouraged by the coaches.
Rellum
Roar Guru
A good opposition captain would be quite happy to see Smith play that shot even if he did connect and leave the field just as it was. Spinners want you trying to smash them as they know it is a great way for them to take wickets
Andy
Guest
Yeah i dont get this excuse for Smiths wild slog, its not that its not true, if Smith had connected the field would have spread and the singles would have come more easily. The problem is its such a stupidly high risk thing to do so early on, you get in by not taking risks something that Smith has too often forgotten. And a few other batsman too.
twodogs
Guest
Part of the answer lies at the end of the article. Australia has not played a test since February. Second test should see a bolder showing from the aussies now they've had a practice ? match.
Tim Holt
Roar Guru
I disagree You do not need to 'take risks' to spread the field with you able to achieve this through skilful batsmanship. The art of accumulation which seems lost in this age. Tap a single in a gap here, run a brisk two there and make sure you punish the bad ball and suddenly you manipulate the field without any risk to you. The modern day obsession with in/out fields even facilitates this! What Smith did in the first was one of the dumbest bits of batting seen, with it showing little or no attention to the state of the game I am sure at getting back to the pavilion his 'captain' would have gone through him like a freight train..... OH RIGHT- Smith is the Captain :(