The roar Joe Root let out when he reviewed correctly to dismiss Cameron Bancroft shortly after David Warner nicked off was guttural and instructive. The England captain had got the big call right and they had two in a hurry. After a horrid collapse before lunch, and an imposing start for Australia, England were suddenly back in the day, with Craig Overton looking more dangerous by the delivery.
But the upshot of the hours to come was always going to rest on how they went when the next guy walked out, Root’s opposite number, Steve Smith. “Buts” don’t come bigger in international cricket. When he gets it right, and so often he does, Australia almost always win. Only two of his 21 centuries have been reached in losing teams – and England cannot afford to lose here. It is binary. Get Smith or get stuffed.
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