Australia’s star batter, Steve Smith, had a disappointing outing in the second ODI against England at Headingley, Leeds. The much-anticipated clash saw Australia batting first after being asked to by England, but the start was far from ideal. Both openers, Travis Head and Matthew Short, got out after promising knocks of 29 each, leaving the team in early trouble.
Expectations were high for Smith to stabilize the innings, but he fell cheaply to a brilliant delivery from England’s young pacer, Matthew Potts. He delivered a full, straight ball aimed at the off stump, drawing Smith into a mistimed drive. Lacking balance and poise, Smith inside-edged the ball onto his stumps, walking back to the pavilion after contributing just 4 runs from 6 balls.
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His dismissal left Australia struggling at 89/3 within 14 overs. The dismissal was a huge blow for the Australians, as Smith had been seen as the anchor to guide them through a challenging situation.
Steve Smith has just been CLEANED UP by Matthew Potts 🤯👏 pic.twitter.com/pbDiDfCv6D
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) September 21, 2024
This match was a crucial opportunity for Smith, who has been under pressure recently to regain his best form. While he managed a decent 32 runs in the first ODI, including three sixes, his inability to build on that in the second game will only add to the scrutiny surrounding his current batting form. Smith will be hoping to bounce back in the remaining three games of the series, not only to help his team win but also to build confidence ahead of the 2025 ICC Champions Trophy.
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Despite Smith’s early exit, Australia managed to recover, thanks to skipper Mitchell Marsh’s crucial half-century. Marnus Labuschagne chipped in with 17 before falling to Jacob Bethell. As the game progressed, Australia aimed to post a competitive total after the early setbacks.
Australia are currently leading the five-match series 1-0 after their dominant performance in the first ODI, where Travis Head’s unbeaten 154 and Labuschagne’s 77 guided them to a comfortable seven-wicket win while chasing 316 runs. The team will look to carry this momentum forward despite their early struggles in the second ODI.
