England's veteran batsman Joe Root has come out in strong defence of his teammate Jamie Smith, following criticism of the latter's mode of dismissal on the second day of the final Ashes Test in Sydney. Root insisted that a batter's primary role is to be proactive and score runs, not merely occupy the crease.
The Context: Smith's Dismissal and the 'Brainless' Tag
The incident occurred during England's first innings at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Jamie Smith, who was looking set on 46 runs off 76 balls, attempted an aggressive shot against part-time bowler Marnus Labuschagne. Backing away to a shoulder-high short delivery, Smith aimed to clear the off-side field but only succeeded in finding Scott Boland at deep cover. His dismissal, which left him four runs short of a half-century, was labelled "brainless" by a television commentator, adding to what has been a challenging debut Ashes series for the young batter.
Smith's campaign in Australia has yielded 185 runs across five Tests at an average of 23.12, with just one fifty. His wicket fell shortly before the second new ball was due, a tactical point that Root later highlighted as crucial to understanding England's approach.
Root's Defence: The Method Behind the Aggression
Speaking to reporters at the end of the day's play, Joe Root provided clear insight into the team's strategy. He explained that England was consciously looking to accelerate the scoring in the overs leading up to the second new ball, which was due just five or six overs after Smith's departure.
"It was completely different that second new ball, and it was almost maximising that 10-over period ahead of facing that new ball," Root stated. "You eke out an extra 20 runs that could be the difference later on down the line. So there was a method behind what we were trying to do."
Root emphasized that the team's philosophy is to always look for opportunities to advance the game. "We are always trying to move the game forward... You see an opportunity, and you back yourself to make the right decisions," he added. More importantly, he framed the core duty of a batsman in clear terms: "As a batter, your job is not to survive; it is to score runs. You cannot win games just by surviving. You have to score more runs than the opposition."
Looking Ahead: Learning and Building Confidence
While acknowledging that batters will make errors, Root stressed the importance of a balanced mindset for learning. He expressed confidence that Smith, given his talent and career achievements so far, would process this experience positively. "I am sure he will find a way of getting in that frame of mind next time he goes out and plays," Root said.
Root also took time to praise vice-captain Harry Brook, who missed out on a maiden Ashes century in Australia, being dismissed for a well-made 84. "Brooky played exceptionally well, and it was a vital partnership... I hope he gains a huge amount of confidence from that," Root remarked. Brook is the third-highest run-scorer in the series with 316 runs at an average of 39.50.
England was eventually bowled out for 384, with Root himself scoring a magnificent 160. Australia's Michael Neser was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4 for 60. In reply, Australia ended day two strongly at 166 for 2, with Travis Head racing to an unbeaten 91.
