England’s tactical masterclass rattles Steve Smith in Ashes opener

England's tactical masterclass rattles Steve Smith in Ashes opener

England's bowlers executed a flawless strategy to unsettle Steve Smith on the first day of the 2025-26 Ashes in Perth, restricting the Australian batting stalwart to an uncharacteristic 17 runs before dismissing him at slip. Smith, known for his dominance in Ashes series, faced 49 deliveries with a record-high false shot rate of 49%, signaling England's most effective approach against him in years.

Pre-match tensions set the stage

Smith's pre-match press conference, where he addressed Monty Panesar's comments about exploiting his guilt over the 2018 Sandpapergate scandal, added fuel to the rivalry. The Australian, long a target of England fans' taunts, entered the match under heightened scrutiny. His innings began amid jeers referencing his emotional 2018 resignation, but his performance-marked by 12 plays and misses, including three wild swipes-was far from his usual composure.

A tactical shift pays off

England's bowlers, led by Jofra Archer, deployed a novel strategy: targeting the channel just outside Smith's body. Data revealed none of the 49 deliveries would have hit the stumps-a first in Smith's Ashes career for innings of 20+ balls. This approach, combined with Perth's bouncy pitch and England's pace-heavy lineup, exploited a vulnerability: Smith's average against such deliveries has plummeted to 22 this year, down from 54.5 during his 2010-21 peak.

"As good as I've seen," former England captain Michael Vaughan praised the attack, calling the day's play "intense" and "brilliant."

Michael Vaughan, BBC Sport

Smith's uncharacteristic struggle

The innings was a stark departure from Smith's Ashes legacy. His 49% false shot rate-nearly five times his Australian average-included two blows to the elbow, a hand strike, and a risky single that nearly ran out Marnus Labuschagne. Despite his 10,494 Test runs and 55.81 average, Smith appeared "uneasy like never before," as analysts noted. England's leg-slip placement, a relic of their failed 2019 plans, underscored their adaptability.

What's next for both sides

While England's plan isn't foolproof-Smith has nine more innings to reclaim his form-their simplicity and precision offer a blueprint. For Smith, the focus must shift from pre-match spats to regaining his trademark fluency. As former England bowler Stuart Broad admitted, even after years of facing Smith, "no one had the perfect plan"-until now.

Day one saw 19 wickets fall, with England's attack earning plaudits for their relentless pressure. The series' tone is set: tactical innovation may finally have cracked the Smith code.