In 2013-14, Smith led the way with a century as Australia crushed Alastair Cook’s team at the WACA to pave the way for an eventual 5-0 Ashes whitewash. The only moment of pleasure came for England in the day’s first hour, in circumstances as unlikely as they were unforeseen. Consecutive boundaries from the England off-spinner, the second of which came courtesy of a confident shimmy down the pitch and a crisp flick to the mid-wicket fence, suggested that the older Marsh was about to bloom. Six hours later and they were still waiting for the next shoe to drop. But on a WACA track that played as flat as England’s on-field spirit, they were fodder.

Source: Pakistan Today December 16, 2017 11:48 UTC