Steve Smith falls for England's short ball ploy in the Ashes

Awkward! Steve Smith falls for England’s short ball ploy despite admitting he couldn’t believe Ashes rivals threw away their wickets to bouncer onslaught from the Aussies

  • Steve Smith was left with egg on his face on Saturday at Lord’s  
  • The Australian threw away his wicket to a short ball from Josh Tongue 
  • He previously said he couldn’t believe England fell for the short ball ploy 

Steve Smith was left with egg on his face after losing his wicket to the exact same ploy which he mocked England for falling for at Lord’s.

Smith swiped at a short delivery from Josh Tongue on Saturday morning and looped the ball straight into the hands of Zak Crawley on the boundary.

It presented England with a big wicket as they look to minimise Australia’s lead heading into the fourth innings, having blown a strong start to their turn at the crease after succumbing to a bouncer onslaught.

Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope and Joe Root all lashed at the short ball on Day 2 and lost their wickets as a result, while Harry Brook failed to convert his half century into a big score after also chasing the bouncer.

Smith admitted he couldn’t believe that England took the short ball bait, but in a rather humiliating turn of events, he too was unable to see off Tongue’s delivery.

Steve Smith fell for England’s short ball ploy on Day Four of the second Ashes Test

Smith had previously admitted he couldn’t believe England fell for the same tactic

‘It was interesting,’ said Smith. ‘Our fast bowlers probably didn’t want to keep charging in bowling the short stuff but while it looked as lively as it did on a pretty benign surface, it was the right way to go. 

‘If England got under a few, we might have stopped doing it but they kept taking it on and presenting opportunities for us,’ Smith added.

Despite falling just short of an Ashes century at Lord’s with 98 runs, England opener Duckett insisted that he had no regrets with the way he got out. 

‘No, not at all. I’d have been gutted in myself if I’d gone into my shell and gone away from it and gloved one to the keeper,’ said Duckett.

‘For three or four overs leading up to that (the wicket), I felt so comfortable just hitting it down to fine leg or the man just behind square for one. 

‘Ten metres either side of the man there and I’ve got a hundred. 

‘I’d only have been disappointed if I’d have gone away from my natural game. 

‘It’s a shot that I play and it’s a shot that I’ve scored plenty of runs over my career so I’m not happy I got out, but I’d rather get out like that,’ Duckett added.

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