Justin Langer admits Jamie Smith's batting in third Ashes Test in Adelaide made him nervous, but believes England lacked 'hard edge' to win
Updated 21/12/2025 at 06:44 GMT
Ex-Australia captain Justin Langer admits Jamie Smith's performance in the third Ashes Test made him nervous, but criticised England's decision-making at key times. Graeme Swann and Steven Finn analysed England's lack of runs in the series, while also praising Australia's fielding after Marnus Labuschagne's two stunning diving catches. England fell to a series defeat in just 11 days.
Highlights: Australia wrap up Ashes series win as England's record chase falters
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Former Australia captain Justin Langer admitted Jamie Smith’s flurry of boundaries made him nervous as England flirted with an improbable fightback in the third 2025/26 NRMA Insurance men's Ashes Test in Adelaide.
The tourists started Day 5 needing 228 runs with just four wickets remaining to prevent Australia from taking an unassailable 3-0 lead in the series to retain the urn.
Smith built a 91-run partnership with Will Jacks, including four straight fours, before skying the fifth attempt to Pat Cummins at mid-on to fall for 60.
Langer criticised Smith’s decision-making, as he believed it showed how England lacked a "hard edge" throughout the series.
"I'll tell you when I was nervous, when Jamie Smith hit those four consecutive boundaries. I thought, 'We all know the talent he’s got, we’ve seen it first-hand at London Spirit'," he told TNT Sports.
"But again, like England have done, you’ve got to have a hard edge, and they just haven’t had a hard edge. Four consecutive boundaries and then you play a shot like he did.
"If I were Jamie, I would have walked straight to my hotel because you’ve got to have a hard edge, and you only score runs in Test cricket if you have a hard edge.
"That Jamie Smith dismissal sums up a lot about how England have played this Test series."
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'I would have walked straight to my hotel' - Langer criticises Smith shot selection
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Swann criticises lack of runs as Finn praises 'relentless' Australia
Former England spinner and TNT Sports expert Graeme Swann agreed that England’s lack of heavy scoring cost them in the series, but defended Smith’s approach to batting in the fourth innings.
He said: "What I will say about Jamie is he put his foot down. He didn’t go through the gears; he went from very circumspect to all out.
"I know this England team will look back and say, ‘We don’t mind you being aggressive, but maybe you could have hit it over mid-off instead of mid-on.’
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"In 2010, we scored heaps of runs - Alastair Cook scored more runs in that series than England have in the whole Ashes here.
"England haven’t scored heavily, Australia have bowled beautifully, they have been metronomic.
"They have just hit a length, hit a length, and that’s allowed the spinners to pick up wickets."
Ex-England seamer and fellow TNT Sports pundit Steven Finn was also keen to praise Australia’s relentless effort in the field, and pointed to key catches at pivotal moments in the match.
Marnus Labuschagne took two one-handed diving catches at slip in England’s second innings – one to remove Ollie Pope and the other to dismiss Jacks, England’s last recognised batter.
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The winning moment as Australia clinch Ashes glory in just 11 days
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Conversely, England have dropped 10 catches in the series so far, including a costly drop from Harry Brook when Travis Head was on 99, before the opener went on to make 170 in the second innings in Adelaide.
Finn said: "This has been England’s best performance in the series so far, and they came relatively close; they got to double digits [runs from winning] in the end and people were starting to believe.
"Marnus Labuschagne’s one-handed catches came at really important times in the game.
"Australia have stood up and deserve to be 3-0 up."
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