On Day 4 of the decisive 5th Ashes Test at the SCG, Australia gained the upper hand against England in a gripping encounter. England, trailing by 183 runs after Australia’s commanding first-innings 567, reached 290/7 in their second dig, holding a slender 107-run lead at stumps in Session 3.
Jamie Smith’s costly mix-up delivers Australia his wicket on crucial Day 4
Jamie Smith‘s lapse in judgment turned into a comedy of errors during the 64.1 over of Australia’s innings. Marnus Labuschagne bowled a short bouncer that failed to rise menacingly, prompting Smith—on 26 off 41 balls with three fours—to instinctively set off for a single after Jacob Bethell pulled around the corner. Bethell hesitated, ball-watching, leaving Smith stranded midway down the pitch.
Jake Weatherald, fielding sharply at square leg, swooped in, gathered the ball left of him, and hurled a precise throw over the stumps to Labuschagne, who whipped the bails off with Smith well short of his ground. The dismissal, Smith run out (Weatherald/Labuschagne), left England reeling at 264/6. Commentators labeled it “crazy cricket,” highlighting the farcical nature amid high stakes. This brain fade echoed Smith’s earlier Ashes struggles, including a bizarre first-innings catch off Labuschagne, but amplified the drama on a flat SCG deck where partnerships were crucial.
Here’s the video:
Jamie Smith is gone as Jake Weatherald spearheads a wild run out!#Ashes pic.twitter.com/dDmu1tbzZn
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 7, 2026
Also READ: Fans celebrate in jubilation as Jacob Bethell brings up his maiden century in the SCG Test
Australia seizes control amid England’s collapse in the final Test
The run-out sparked a sudden slide that swung momentum firmly Australia’s way. From a steady 219 for 4, with Bethell standing tall on a gritty, unbeaten 135 from 212 balls, England unraveled quickly. Will Jacks fell for a duck, undone by Cameron Green with a stunning grab, and moments later Jamie departed as the score slipped to 264 for 6. Ben Stokes didn’t last long either, edging Beau Webster to slip for just 1 at 267 for 7, leaving Brydon Carse (11 not out) to dig in alongside Bethell but failed.
Australia’s attack, driven by Webster’s impressive 3 for 43, stayed sharp and patient, while Scott Boland’s tidy 1 for 30 and Michael Neser’s 1 for 55 kept the squeeze on. England added 50 runs for two wickets in the final 10 overs at a brisk rate, yet their advantage continued to shrink with at least 17 overs still to navigate. England currently lead by 119 runs with 2 wickets left to put up a fighting target.
Also WATCH: Cameron Green floors Jacob Bethell with a nasty bouncer on Day 4 of SCG Test
