Any evanescent thoughts of an innings victory soon melted in the fierce sunlight. Stokes and Jacks had come to fight it out, and before the break defied seven bowlers. The closest Australia came to breaking the partnership was a spitting cobra from Boland which took the edge of Stokes’ bat and flew agonisingly just above Green’s Go Gadget arms in the cordon. Aside from that the largely somnolent pitch, and Nathan Lyon’s impassive stare in the pavilion, told their contrasting tales. England drifted into the lead, and eventually Labuschagne tried an over of liquorice allsorts. All to no avail. Stokes was going to bat, and bat, and bat; and see if Australia’s bowlers could be worn down. In that event, after dark his plan would be to go berserk and attempt to conjure an impossible victory.
In the afternoon shadows Head dropped a hot chance from Jacks at short leg: a place where they either stick or they don’t. This one didn’t. Stokes reached a sedate fifty, and Australia sought inspiration. They found it when Neser induced a sharp edge from Jacks, taken just off the grass by Smith’s bootlaces. A miraculous catch for anyone else. Probably routine for him. He has well over 200 Test catches. This was one of the better ones. The longed-for incision then came when Stokes edged Neser behind to Carey, who was standing up to the stumps and treating the bearded Queenslander like a medium-fast spinner. Then Atkinson pulled Doggett straight to mid-wicket. This time Smith did not have to bend, and he tossed it away with a grin. Back at a fine slip to the energetic Neser, he pouched another to dismiss Carse and it was all over. 65 to win, and no-one imagined that Head and Wetherald would be dawdling on the way to the finish line.
Nor did they. In the five overs before the break half the runs were peeled off. Archer sent down a few thunderbolts, and Head hoicked Atkinson all over the greensward. No-one knows why the dinner-break was taken. Common sense might have suggested that a break after five overs was surplus to requirements. Perchance it was a contractual obligation to the caterers. After the break Atkinson bowled beautifully, inducing a play-on from Head and a snorting lifter outside off to remove Labuschagne. All too late, alas. We don’t know what was in the refreshments served, but Smith came out in his black war-paint breathing fire and brimstone. Beaten by an Archer fireball, he suggested that the man try bowling faster. Archer obliged, and was whacked for a four and a six over fine leg.
For a dreadful moment lightning crackled between the two men. Then Archer smiled and turned away, realising that he had been deceived; and the moment passed. Smith finished the match with another six, and embraced his colleague, having scored an unbeaten 23 from nine balls. It was another eight-wicket victory. At least England put up a better fight this time. But it is apparent that their laid-back preparation has betrayed them. In Adelaide Captain Pat will return, and Lyon, and possibly also Hazlewood. With the series all but gone, England has some soul-searching to do. Josh Tongue must be given his chance. Probably also Bashir. Jacks might keep his place instead of Pope. Or else Jacob Bethel: a better-credentialled number three. They have been comprehensively outplayed by a weakened eleven. Stokes cannot do it all by himself. And his captaincy left a great deal to be desired.