A moment of madness from Jamie Smith has pushed England to the precipice of Ashes defeat, with Australia needing just three wickets to secure a decisive 3-0 series lead after a dramatic final morning in Adelaide.
Lunch Scorecard and the State of Play
At the lunch interval on day five, England's valiant fightback had reached 309 for seven, still requiring a further 126 runs for a world-record chase of 435. Will Jacks provided stubborn resistance, unbeaten on 38 from 120 deliveries, with Brydon Carse offering support at the other end.
The tourists had been building significant momentum through a crucial seventh-wicket partnership of 91 between Smith and Jacks. With Australia's key spinner, Nathan Lyon, forced from the field with a hamstring injury, the improbable target of 435 began to appear within the realm of possibility.
Smith's Crucial and Costly Rush of Blood
The pivotal moment arrived with England on 287 for six. Jamie Smith, who had looked utterly composed in reaching 60, attempted to club a fifth consecutive boundary off the bowling of Mitchell Starc. Skying the ball to mid-on, where Pat Cummins took a comfortable catch, Smith's dismissal was a self-inflicted wound at the worst possible time.
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting, commentating for Channel 7, did not mince his words, labelling the shot "dopey, dopey, dopey" as the pressure instantly swung back towards the home side.
Australia's Tactics and England's Flicker of Hope
Australia began the day with Lyon, the hero of day four who had taken three quick wickets, but his initial spell was fruitless. Smith had earlier taken the attack to the off-spinner, swiping him for a huge six over mid-wicket.
With the new ball imminent, Australia turned to the gentle seam of Cameron Green and even the part-time offerings of Travis Head and Marnus Labuschagne. England capitalised, taking 17 runs from the final two overs with the old ball. Smith, in particular, had been accelerating, driving Pat Cummins and Mitchell Starc for a series of authoritative boundaries before his fatal misjudgement.
The session was also interrupted by a light rain shower, which halted play for over half an hour and offered England a brief respite. The loss of Lyon to injury shortly after the restart was a further boost for the tourists, but Smith's dismissal has left Australia firmly in the box seat to seal the Ashes.
