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Steve Smith cracks under Ashes pressure as 48.9% false-shot rate leads to unwanted record

Akshita Patel

Steve Smith opens Ashes with scratchy knock [Source: @WisdenCricket/X.com]Steve Smith opens Ashes with scratchy knock [Source: @WisdenCricket/X.com]

Australia’s stand-in captain Steve Smith played a scratchy knock of 17 off 49 balls on day 1 of the Ashes 2025 opening Test. He played a total of 24 false shots to script an unwanted record for himself.

Australia were pumped after they bowled out England for 172 runs in the first innings of the Perth Test. Mitchell Starc registered his career-best figure of 7/58 in his 12.5 overs.

However, in the second inning, the Aussies were humbled, especially the stand-in captain.

Steve Smith shows signs of regression in the Perth Test

With Pat Cummins out with injury, Steve Smith is leading Australia in the opening Test at Perth. He walked out to bat at no. 3 after Jake Weatherald was dismissed on a 2-ball duck.

However, Smith was not even close to his best. Jofra Archer rattled him with his pace. Gus Atkinson hit him on the right arm as the batter appeared in serious pain. 

Steve Smith played 49 balls and scored just 17 runs. He looked uncomfortable on most deliveries and registered a total of 24 false shots, which is roughly 48.9%.

That is the highest ever percentage of false shots Smith has ever registered in his Test career while facing 30 balls or more. His previous worst was just 29%.

The gap between those two numbers says everything. This wasn’t a small wobble. This was a major departure from the standard that has defined Steve Smith for over a decade. 

Since the batter usually plays at no. 4, the promotion to no. 3 could have been a differentiator. However, for a player with Smith’s experience, this excuse doesn’t have much merit.

As a result of the skipper’s scratch knock, Australia dipped to 31/4 in 17.2 overs before Travis Head and Cameron Green initiated the rescue effort with a steady partnership for the 5th wicket.

Steve Smith’s career low is not a surprise

Interestingly, Steve Smith has been showing signs of regression in Test cricket for the last couple of years. Excluding the Sri Lanka series this year, Smith has scored only two half-centuries (77 & 66) in 2025. 

In 2024, he scored 490 runs in 17 Test innings with a 35.00 average. This year, though his average improved to 48.36, the usual impact that Steve Smith had in his prime years is still missing and perhaps faded into thin air.