Steve Smith slammed England’s fielding tactics as “pretty defensive” as Australia gained an edge after three hard-fought days in the first Ashes Test at the Gabba. The tourists had well-researched plans in place for the Australian captain and world’s top-ranked batsman, yet Smith still scored a stubborn unbeaten 141, his 21st Test century. Australia took a narrow innings lead on the third day of the absorbing Test match before England closed at 33 for two in their second innings, a lead of seven runs.
England skipper Joe Root’s field strategy for Smith was likened to Bodyline, a notorious leg theory bowling tactic devised by England on their 1932-33 tour of Australia, specifically to negate the dominant batting skills of the great Don Bradman.
“It was almost as though they were waiting for our batters to make a mistake. Unfortunately, four of the top batsmen made those mistakes.
“It felt like it was very defensive. It might be a series where boundaries might be hard to come by. They were pretty defensive pretty early.”
Australia have a formidable record at Brisbane’s intimidating ‘Gabbatoir’, where they have not lost a Test match since falling to Viv Richards’ West Indies in 1988.
