England wicketkeeper Jamie Smith paid the value for letting Travis Head off the hook with an easy fumble early on day two of the second Check.
Smith grassed an opportunity to his left when Head was on three which gave Australia’s most harmful batter a life early in his innings off Jofra Archer.
Head and opening associate Jake Weatherald went on to smash a 77-run stand for the primary wicket with the vice-captain belting three fours and a six.
It may have been worse for Smith and England with Head out for 33 when he skied Brydon Carse to Gus Atkinson however the Aussies have been off to a flyer at that stage, going at higher than a run a ball.
Former Australian quick bowler Jason Gillespie mentioned wicketkeepers ought to be taking these type of catches at this stage.
“That’s a nasty miss,” he mentioned on ABC Radio.
Even former England spinner Phil Tufnell, a participant infamous for his lack of fielding capability, was shocked Smith put the prospect down.
“He ought to have wolfed that up. Alex Carey would have caught it,” he mentioned.
Australia pounced on the error with Weatherald chalking up his first Check half-century in his second match as they handed 100 for the lack of only one wicket within the 18th over in reply to England’s whole of 334.
