Former Australia head coach Justin Langer shed light on the ongoing Ashes 2025-26 after watching Jamie Smith’s madness on the second day of the ongoing fifth and final Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) in Sydney, which stunned the entire cricket world and left England in shock.
Justin Langer criticizes Jamie Smith
Langer has come under fire by calling Jamie Smith a stupid cricketer after his careless dismissal on the second day of the ongoing New Year Test at the SCG.
Smith never looked settled while batting with Joe Root in the first session. His footwork was weak, his shot selection erratic, yet he survived when he shouldn’t have. But eventually Australia got a breakthrough at the crucial moment which brought them back into the game.
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expensive moment of madness
Jamie Smith was in survival mode at the SCG. Australia thought they had him caught at cover off Cameron Green, but the delivery was ruled a front-foot no ball. The very next ball had a thick edge which slipped between Alex Carey and Beau Webster at first slip without any touch.
Those escapes kept England alive as Root and Smith added 94 runs. Smith continued to play dangerously, batting like a man on borrowed time, while Australia were desperate for a breakthrough before lunch. In a surprise move, the Australians handed the ball to part-time bowler Marnus Labuschagne at the end of the season.
Labuschagne’s delivery that ended the partnership was nothing but a threat. It was short, wide and settled after being pitched, a ball that should never have troubled any Test batsman. Instead of playing it safe, Smith stepped back and went for a huge offside hit.
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The gamble backfired as the ball went straight to Scott Boland at deep extra cover, ending Smith’s innings at 46 and giving Australia a gifted wicket.
The only possible audio accompaniment for a wicket that is at the pinnacle of ingenuity…#why did you do this, pic.twitter.com/pcIpPGg4SV
– Henry Moeran (@henrymoeranBBC) 5 January 2026
Langer’s explosive “Jamie Smith played one of the worst shots ever seen in Test cricket” reaction
The dismissal was sharply criticized, with Langer leading the reaction and calling the shot one of the stupidest decisions seen in Test cricket. Justin Langer launched a scathing attack on Seven, saying, “Good bowling, brilliant bowling, dumb batting.”
Langer said, “To be dismissed like that, some questions have to be asked about his leadership. It is unforgivable when he is playing for his place in the Test team. Not for the first time in this series, Jamie Smith has played one of the worst shots you will ever see in Test cricket.”
cricket pundit backlash blast
Former England women’s star Isa Guha said on Fox Cricket, “Jamie Smith, what have you done? Australia have been given a gift several times in this series, and there is another gift.”
Australia women’s team captain Alyssa Healy said, “There was a guy in front of point on the off side, and she got him out. I know that’s the way they play and the way they want to approach it, but you can’t honestly tell me that she’s going to come back into that changing room and get a pat on the back.”
Australian legend Brett Lee could only laugh when he said on-air, “It’s a rank bumper outside the off-stump, but what was he doing? What was Jamie Smith thinking? It was a poor shot… It’s a dirty shot.”
Simon Katich, another former Australian great, criticized Smith, admitting that the careless moment was not that surprising considering the way he was batting. “It’s no surprise though. It’s a bad shot. He’s gifted his wicket there. That’s bad batting,” Katich said on SEN.
“He’ll go into the dressing room now and probably get a pat on the back for getting the game on,” Simon Katich said on SEN after Jamie Smith was dismissed by a short ball from Marnus Labuschagne.
– Matt Roller (@mroller98) 5 January 2026
On the other hand, former England fast bowler Stuart Broad feels that Smith may have to pay the price for his dismissal at the SCG. Broad, commentating on the match, said, “It was a very unusual innings indeed, and not just an unusual out.”