Australian stand-in captain Steve Smith has found himself at the centre of a storm of criticism from cricket fans worldwide following his batting strategy on Day 3 of the fourth Ashes Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG). With Australia already having sealed the series 3-0, Smith's decision-making while batting with the tailender has been labelled 'selfish' and 'brain-dead' by furious supporters on social media.
The Controversial Innings That Sparked Outrage
In a low-scoring match where every run was crucial, Australia's second innings folded for just 132 runs. Travis Head was the top scorer with 46, but all eyes were on Steve Smith at the crease with number 11 Jhye Richardson. Smith, who was unbeaten on 24, repeatedly took singles off the first ball of the over, exposing Richardson to the bulk of the bowling.
This tactic infuriated fans who believed that as the senior batsman and captain, Smith should have 'farmed the strike' to protect the tailender and try to score more runs himself. England, bowled out for 110 in their first innings, were set a target of 175 runs to win the Boxing Day Test. By stumps, the visitors were racing along at 56 for 1 in just 8 overs, putting them in a strong position.
Social Media Erupts Over Smith's 'Average-Boosting' Tactics
The reaction on platforms like X (formerly Twitter) was swift and severe. One fan wrote, "Lost all respect for Steve Smith today. Playing for a personal average, not the team. Cheap singles first ball, leaving a No.11 to face the over. That does not match awareness—it’s selfish cricket."
Another user posted, "Steve Smith batting with the tail is always infuriatingly selfish," while one more commented, "Steve Smith was completely batting for his average there, lmfao. Everyone in the world farms the strike with the tail, but nah, you gotta have red ink on this minefield." The term 'red ink' refers to a not-out innings in the scorebook.
Some used stronger language, with one calling the tactics "brain-dead and dog shit cricket." The consensus among critics was clear: Smith's primary concern seemed to be preserving his own unbeaten status rather than aggressively pushing for team runs.
Series Context and Smith's Performance
Smith is leading the side in this match as regular captain Pat Cummins was rested for workload management. Cummins, who had earlier recovered from a back injury, was left out to secure his long-term fitness.
Australia had already retained the Ashes urn convincingly by winning the first three Tests:
- 1st Test, Perth: Australia won by 8 wickets. Key performers: Mitchell Starc (7/58) and Travis Head (123 off 83).
- 2nd Test, Brisbane: Australia won by 8 wickets. Key performers: Joe Root (138*) and Michael Neser (5/42).
- 3rd Test, Adelaide: Australia won by 82 runs. Key performers: Travis Head (170) and Alex Carey (106).
In the ongoing fourth Test, Australia were bowled out for 152 in their first innings, with England's Josh Tongue taking 5/45. England then collapsed for 110, with Michael Neser claiming 4/45.
Steve Smith's series with the bat has been steady but unspectacular. He scored 17 and 2* in the first Test, 61 and 23* in the second, and missed the third Test due to injury. In this match, he was out for 9 in the first innings before his unbeaten 24 in the second. Despite scoring only 135 runs in 6 innings, his habit of remaining not out has given him a respectable average of 45.00 in the series so far—a fact that has only added fuel to the critics' fire.
The Final Day Awaits
As the match heads into its final day, England need just 119 more runs with 9 wickets in hand. Smith's controversial innings could well prove to be the defining moment of this Boxing Day Test. While his technical prowess is rarely questioned, his game awareness and intent under pressure have been severely scrutinised, leaving his captaincy credentials and team-first attitude under a cloud in the court of public opinion.
